Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122759160300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Present strength of conservancy workers insufficient: AITUC

Staff Reporter

Tirupur: The Corporation conservancy workers, affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), staged a demonstration here on Friday demanding betterment of working and living conditions for them.

They urged the Corporation administration to appoint more number of conservancy workers to commensurate with the increase in the population over the last few years for effective removal of garbage.

“At least thousand more workers have to be inducted into the service as the present strength of 819 is quite insufficient for successful implementation of solid waste management project as conceptualized by the Corporation administration,” the agitators said.

At present, 117 workers had been allocated houses at Soosiapuram, Thennampalayam and Municipal Colony situated along Tirupur-Dharapuram road. Steps should be taken to issue free pattas for the occupants of these dwellings.

P.R. Nataraj, secretary of Conservancy Workers Union, said that the administration should regularise the work hours of the conservancy staff by introducing a single shift system from 6 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., with a 30-minute break for meals.

The existing staff core should be awarded ‘selection grade’ and ‘special grade’ scales of pay according to their seniority.