Srinagar: Sanitation workers who are tirelessly cleaning and disinfecting the city to prevent transmission of Covid-19 are yet to be paid any extra wages or bonus for the increased workload put on their shoulders.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) pays its sanitation employees only Rs 7,250 in monthly wages.
“Before the Covid-19 lockdown we did sanitation work on rotating shifts but now as per the order we have to work on daily basis in many more areas than we used to. It is having an adverse impact on our health,” a group of sanitation workers told Kashmir Reader.
“We are risking our lives. We only want the department to provide us some extra incentives, as nowadays we are doing extra work,” they said.
SMC ward officers of different areas said that the sanitation workers, inspectors, and supervisors are all risking their lives.
“Although permanent employees are getting good salary but these sanitation workers are only getting 7,250 rupees, which is not sufficient. They work day and night so that common people don’t face any problems during this tough time,” a ward officer said.
“If the higher-ups are not willing to increase their salary, they should at least this crisis provide them some bonus as appreciation of their work,” he added.
Ghulam Muhammad Solina, president of the Safai Karamchari Union of SMC, said the authorities must provide a bonus to the sanitation workers, who work even on government holidays and Sundays.
“We are all working day in and day out, that too at risk to our lives in this pandemic,” Solina said. “Whenever any disaster hits the valley, we are at the forefront, but unfortunately we are not getting what we deserve.”
Deputy Mayor Parveez Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that the former mayor had decided to provide 500 rupees per day as bonus for all frontline workers who are fighting this pandemic. “But unfortunately, he has been removed, which is the main reason this process has not been completed,” Ahmad said.
“I have talked to senior officials regarding this and hopefully this issue will be resolved in this month,” Ahmad said.

NAZIMA SIDIQ