Hooghly, 13 May (H.S.): Temporary sanitation workers of Rishra Municipality, who had gone on strike from Tuesday over various demands, are likely to resume work from Thursday after a meeting with BJP councillor Shashi Singh Jha on Wednesday.

Jha, councillor of Ward No. 11, visited the agitating workers and listened to their grievances. She appealed to them to return to work, assuring them that efforts would be made to address their problems at the earliest.

Following the meeting, the workers indicated that they were willing to resume duties from Thursday in the larger public interest.

Speaking to the media, Jha alleged that the temporary sanitation workers were not even being paid minimum wages and that payments were often delayed. She further claimed that the workers were being denied basic benefits such as ESI and PF facilities.

“The condition of the sanitation workers is extremely poor. Many of the vehicles used for waste collection are damaged, there is a shortage of proper equipment, and there is no adequate medical support for workers who fall ill,” she said.

The BJP councillor termed the workers’ demands “genuine” and urged the municipal authorities to take immediate steps to improve their working conditions.

The sanitation workers, meanwhile, said they understood the inconvenience caused to residents due to the strike and were prepared to resume work from Thursday. However, they warned that they could intensify their agitation again if their demands remained unaddressed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey