In a dramatic turn ahead of Holi celebrations, Ayodhya’s sanitation system teeters on the brink. Enraged over three months of unpaid wages, over 300 sanitation workers downed tools Thursday, staging protests that paralyzed cleaning efforts citywide.
The unrest erupted from chronic payment delays plaguing the workforce. Demonstrators flooded streets from Sahadatganj to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, chanting for justice. ‘Repeated pleas to officials yielded only empty promises,’ they alleged, noting salaries still absent from accounts.
A striker vented, ‘No money for three months – we’re on strike until dues clear.’ Health woes compound the crisis: ‘Sick colleagues can’t seek care without funds,’ shared another. Wages, when paid, are often short – hovering at 8,000-9,000 rupees.
Authorities assure payments by March 2, but workers doubt feasibility amid bank holidays. With more than 3,000 affected, the ripple effects threaten festival hygiene. Ayodhya, revered as Ram Janmabhoomi, now grapples with administrative lapses that could mar its spiritual allure.
This labor dispute spotlights systemic failures in wage disbursement for essential workers. As Holi nears, urgent negotiations are imperative to restore order and prevent public health risks in this pilgrimage hub.