For the fourth straight day, sanitation workers under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) from the Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, and Ambattur zones continued their protest outside the Ripon Buildings. They are demanding that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) reverse its decision to privatize solid waste management in their localities under the Dravidian model.
The protest has seen over 300 conservancy workers abstaining from duty, significantly disrupting garbage collection in the affected zones. As a result, personnel from neighboring areas have been forced to work overtime to manage the mounting waste backlog.
The workers, who have served for over a decade, expressed frustration over the sudden shift to outsourcing, which officially began on 1 August 2025.
“We’ve been doing this job for 15 years with the hope of being made permanent. In 2021, the Chief Minister assured us of regularization. But now, our zones have been handed over to private contractors, and we’ve been removed from our roles,” said R. Prasanth, a conservancy worker from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar. “It’s been four days of protesting, but no officials, including Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, have addressed us.” Many women participating in the protest were seen in tears, lamenting that their years of dedication had been discarded as though they were waste themselves.
The protesting workers argue that privatization, while being promoted by officials as a way to enhance efficiency, could instead lead to exploitation. “Private contractors might cut salaries from ₹23,000 to ₹15,000. On top of that, various deductions labeled as ‘benefits’ will make it difficult for workers to make ends meet,” warned J. Dinakaran from the Labour Rights Movement (Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam).
CPM Councillor P. Vimala of Ward 41 emphasized the need for the GCC to balance efficient waste management with worker welfare. “There is no assurance of job security, and there’s a real threat of significant pay cuts,” she said.
Despite the mounting protests, Deputy Mayor M. Mahesh Kumar stated that the decision to privatize waste collection remains unchanged. He suggested that workers submit formal petitions to the relevant minister or the Deputy Chief Minister, instead of continuing demonstrations.
(With inputs from Times Of India)
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