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Hans India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Madras HC to hear today plea against Chennai corporation's private sanitation contract
The Madras High Court will on Tuesday hear a petition opposing the Greater Chennai Corporation's decision to hand over sanitation work in two city zones to a private contractor -- a move that has triggered intense protests from workers. On June 16, the Corporation awarded a Rs 276 crore cleaning services contract for Zones 5 and 6 to a private firm. The Workers' Rights Movement, led by its president K. Bharathi, moved the High Court seeking to quash the resolution, arguing that the decision threatens the livelihood and job security of thousands of workers. According to the petition, 2,242 permanent workers are to be transferred to other zones, while 1,953 temporary workers will be brought under the contractor's control. The petitioner contends that these employees will be subject to the contractor's terms, risking arbitrary dismissal, lower wages, and loss of benefits. It is further alleged that the outsourcing decision was made without mandatory approval from the labour court, despite a related case being sub judice. The move has sparked more than 10 days of continuous demonstrations outside the Corporation's Ripon Building headquarters, with sanitation workers and unions demanding that the contract be cancelled. Protesters accuse the civic body of ignoring their pleas and prioritising commercial considerations over employee welfare. When the matter came up on Monday, Advocate General P.S. Raman, representing the Corporation, requested additional time to submit a revised counter-affidavit. He said corrections had been made to an earlier version, and the updated document required the Commissioner's signature before filing. The petitioner's counsel opposed any further delay, telling the court that 'nearly 2,000 workers have been thrown out like garbage' and were in urgent need of relief. The counsel stressed that prolonging the process would deepen the hardship of those affected. After hearing both sides, the court directed that the matter be listed for hearing on Tuesday and ordered the Corporation to file its reply without fail. The case's outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the city's approach to sanitation management and the future of public sector jobs in the civic workforce.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Fishermen yet to be paid for their services during last year's monsoon
Fishermen who helped residents during last year's Northeast Monsoon, are still waiting for the payment for the services rendered. Community leaders say that the men, who have put in physical labour to get stranded people out are being made wait for such small amounts unnecessarily. Fishing boats are requisitioned by the authorities before rains and are kept ready for use to rescue stranded persons in flooded areas in and around the city. Kosu Mani, a community leader, said that the fishermen were always ready to lend a helping hand when it comes to natural calamities and drownings in the sea. 'I have been asking the AD fisheries to take steps to ensure that the amount reaches our men. We don't know why the amount has not been disbursed. It's been over six months now since they took part in the rescue,' he said. K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare. Association said that the fishermen have been assisting residents since 2015 but till now there is no proper system for disbursal of the promised amount. 'For some years it was the Chennai Corporation. This year, they say the Revenue and Disaster Management department will make the payment. A few months ago, the fishermen who were involved in the rescue operations were facilitated. At that time only the boat owners were given a small amount, the others were not,' he added.
