Kumar Prabhat
Dumka
Dumka, the sub-capital of Jharkhand, is grappling with a sanitation crisis after 15 daily-wage workers of the Dumka Municipal Council launched an indefinite strike over prolonged non-payment of wages. The protest has disrupted cleanliness operations and drawn attention to the financial and administrative challenges facing the civic body.
The sanitation workers alleged that despite being recruited to maintain the city’s cleanliness, they have not been paid on time. Workers appointed in April reportedly received only one month’s salary, while those hired in May claim they have not received any wages. They said the administration had assured them that salaries would be credited by the first week of every month, but the promise was never fulfilled.
Many of the workers travel nearly 40 kilometres daily from areas such as Masalia and Kathikund, bearing transportation expenses from their own pockets. They also alleged that the Municipal Council has failed to provide basic safety gear, including gloves, masks and boots, forcing them to handle waste without protective equipment.
The strike has also highlighted the Municipal Council’s financial constraints. According to sources, revenue collection from holding taxes and commercial rents has remained weak for months, while arrears from several commercial establishments have accumulated, affecting the council’s finances.
The workers questioned why regular officials continue to receive salaries while contractual sanitation staff remain unpaid. With the newly constituted Municipal Board now in office, residents are demanding immediate intervention to resolve the wage dispute, restore sanitation services and ensure that workers responsible for maintaining public hygiene receive their dues without further delay.
