Congress leader Kumari Selja raises concerns over the sanitation workers’ strike, garbage accumulation and worker safety in Haryana.
Haryana Sanitation Workers’ Strike: Kumari Selja Warns of Garbage and Public Health Crisis
CHANDIGARH/ PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Haryana’s sanitation crisis has intensified amid the ongoing strike by sanitation workers, with Congress national general secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja accusing the state government of failing to address the workers’ concerns and warning that the accumulation of garbage during the monsoon could pose a serious public health risk.
Selja, who is also the Sirsa MP and a former Union minister, said the consequences of what she described as the state government’s “failure to honour its commitments” and its alleged indifferent attitude towards sanitation workers were now being faced by people across Haryana.
According to Selja, the sanitation workers’ strike has disrupted waste collection in several cities, resulting in large quantities of garbage accumulating on roads, in markets and residential areas. She said the situation was particularly concerning because the monsoon season had already begun, increasing the possibility of sanitation-related health risks in areas where waste remains uncollected.
She urged the Haryana government to avoid confrontation with the protesting workers and instead engage with them through meaningful and sensitive dialogue. According to her, resolving the legitimate demands of sanitation workers within a defined timeframe was the responsibility of the government.
Citing media reports, Selja said employees associated with 87 urban local bodies and 103 fire stations across the state were participating in the agitation. She pointed to the situation in Hisar, where, according to reports cited by her, nearly 1,000 tonnes of garbage had accumulated, while sanitation services had also been affected in several other cities, including Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Panipat, Ambala, Karnal, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri.
The Congress leader said the accumulation of garbage in residential and commercial areas during the rainy season could aggravate public health concerns. She pointed out that stagnant water combined with heaps of uncollected waste could create conditions favourable for mosquitoes and flies and increase the risk of infections and other seasonal illnesses.
Selja called upon the state government to immediately make alternative sanitation arrangements in affected areas while simultaneously holding substantive talks with representatives of the protesting workers. She said the two issues should be addressed together so that residents do not have to bear the consequences of the ongoing dispute.
“The government must fulfil the commitments made to sanitation workers and ensure that they are provided dignified and safe working conditions,” Selja said, stressing that sanitation workers perform an essential public service and their concerns should be addressed with sensitivity.
She also raised concerns over the safety of sanitation workers following a fatal incident in Faridabad.
‘Developed Haryana’ Claims Questioned After Sanitation Worker Dies During Manhole Cleaning
Referring to the death of a sanitation worker during the cleaning of a manhole in Sector 25 of Faridabad, Selja described the incident as deeply painful and questioned the safety arrangements available to sanitation workers in the state.
According to media reports cited by her, two sanitation workers entered a manhole during cleaning operations and were allegedly exposed to poisonous gas. One worker died in the incident, while another was reported to be in critical condition.
Selja said the incident raised serious questions about the safety of workers engaged in hazardous sanitation operations. She said that despite claims of development and modernisation, it was deeply unfortunate if sanitation workers were still required to enter sewers or manholes without essential protective equipment.
She specifically referred to the reported absence of equipment such as masks, oxygen cylinders, safety belts and other protective gear. Selja said sanitation workers should not be allowed to enter sewers or manholes without prescribed safety equipment and that existing safety regulations must be implemented strictly.
She demanded an impartial investigation into the Faridabad incident and called for accountability to be fixed if negligence or violation of safety procedures was established.
The Congress leader also demanded appropriate compensation for the family of the deceased worker and employment for an eligible dependent. She further said the government should bear the entire cost of treatment of the injured sanitation worker.
Selja said the incident should serve as a reminder that sanitation workers often perform hazardous duties under difficult conditions and that their safety cannot be compromised. She called for strict enforcement of safety protocols across Haryana and urged the authorities to ensure that no sanitation worker is sent into a sewer or manhole without the required protective equipment and safety arrangements.
The Congress leader said the government should take immediate steps on both fronts—ending the sanitation workers’ strike through meaningful negotiations and ensuring uninterrupted sanitation services for residents.
She maintained that addressing the grievances of sanitation workers and protecting public health should not be treated as competing priorities. Instead, she said, the government must work simultaneously to resolve the workers’ concerns, restore regular waste collection and strengthen safety mechanisms for those engaged in sanitation work.
The issue has assumed greater significance with the monsoon increasing the challenges of waste management and waterlogging in urban areas. Selja urged the government to act promptly and responsibly so that the ongoing dispute does not turn into a wider sanitation and public health crisis across Haryana.
