Sanitary workers and pump operators stage demonstration

Sanitary workers and pump operators employed at village panchayats in the district staged a demonstration here on Thursday, pressing a charter of demands.

Led by K. Rajamanickam, President, Tamil Nadu sanitary workers association and R. Velsamy, President, Pump operators association, about 350 workers, including women staged the protest near the new bus stand, pressing their nine-point charter of demands.

The demands included enrolling them in the new health insurance scheme, payment of dearness allowance as announced by the government, payment of benefits under the group insurance scheme and making them full time employees with a monthly consolidated pay of Rs. 10,000.

Though they contributed for the group insurance scheme every month, the benefits were paid only to those who died during service, Mr Rajamanickam said and also demanded that the benefits under the scheme be given to the employees after their retirement also.

He said the government which paid pension and gratuity to noon meal workers should extend the benefits to the sanitary workers and pump operators.

The government should also announce equal pay to the sanitary workers and pump operators.