Madhya Pradesh is facing a mounting garbage and water crisis as a statewide strike by municipal employees entered its third day on Friday, disrupting sanitation and water supply in several cities.
The four demands are a salary hike, compassionate appointments, regularisation and an end to the contract system. Union leader Vasi Sultan said around 7,000 employees work for 25 days a month and get only ₹ 10,500 per month, which is not enough to run a household.
Union president Maganlal Jhanjhot said the employees were now prepared for an all-out fight as their demands remained unresolved. “We are trying to resolve the issue,” he said. Bhopal municipal commissioner RP Ahirwar has been meeting the workers to resolve the issue, and an agreement is likely to be reached on Friday.
“The pile of garbage can cause health issues too. Why the BJP-led state government is silent,” he added. Urban development department minister Kailash Vijayvargiya did not respond when contacted.
Congress spokesperson Anand Jat said things were worsening in the state, especially in the capital city and smaller cities, but the ministers were not paying attention to the situation.
