Shimla, May 18
The sanitation crisis in Shimla worsened on Monday as the indefinite strike by sanitation workers entered its fourth day, leaving garbage piled up across several parts of the city. Residents are facing increasing inconvenience due to foul smell and unhygienic conditions in many areas of the state capital.
The strike, led by nearly 800 sanitation workers affiliated with the SEHB Society, has severely affected cleaning operations in major areas, including Mall Road, the Ridge, Lower Bazaar, Sanjauli, Lakkar Bazaar, Chhota Shimla, Tutikandi, and several other wards.
The protesting workers are demanding the immediate restoration of a 10 percent salary increase they claim was halted at the beginning of the year. Sanitation employees alleged that the administration has adopted a negative attitude toward their demands and has failed to provide any concrete solution despite repeated discussions.
Speaking during the protest, workers said it has become impossible to support their families on a monthly salary of ₹12,000, especially amid rising inflation and increasing living expenses. They maintained that the salary increase was essential to their survival and vowed to continue the strike until their demands were met.
The workers also strongly opposed the Shimla Municipal Corporation’s proposal to outsource sanitation services. Protesters warned the municipal corporation that if sanitation work is outsourced, it should be prepared to face the consequences.
The employees further stated that similar outsourcing attempts had been made in the past but were unsuccessful. They claimed that outsourcing would not solve the city’s sanitation problems and could further worsen the situation.
With garbage continuing to accumulate across the city, residents have urged authorities to resolve the deadlock at the earliest to restore normal sanitation services in the state capital.
