The ongoing indefinite strike by SEHB sanitation workers has brought the city’s waste management system under severe strain, with Municipal Corporation Shimla taking strict action by terminating 40 employees on Wednesday, including key union leaders associated with the CITU-affiliated SEHB Employees’ Union.
The workers have been on strike for the past five days, demanding the restoration of an annual 10 percent honorarium increase. The agitation has significantly disrupted door-to-door garbage collection across nearly 32 kilometres of the municipal area, resulting in accumulation of waste at multiple locations across the city.
The sanitation breakdown has caused widespread inconvenience to residents and tourists alike in the state capital. Piles of garbage have attracted stray animals such as dogs and monkeys, further worsening sanitation conditions and public discomfort in several localities.
The action by the Municipal Corporation follows the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by the district administration, which had warned employees against disrupting essential public services. Authorities cited continued disruption of sanitation operations as the reason for the termination order.
Earlier, a meeting was held between Mayor Surender Chauhan and the protesting workers, during which discussions were held regarding a possible conditional withdrawal of the strike. However, workers insisted on a written assurance regarding the restoration of the 10 percent honorarium hike before resuming duties. With no written commitment issued, the strike continued.
Several organisations, including CPM, hotel associations, street vendors’ bodies, health institution workers, SFI, DYFI, Himachal Kisan Sabha, women’s groups, and pensioners’ associations, have extended support to the protesting workers and announced participation in ongoing demonstrations.
Over 800 sanitation workers under the SEHB system are currently demanding continuation of the annual increment, while the Municipal Corporation is reportedly considering alternative benefit structures in place of the existing hike, leading to a prolonged stalemate.
The worsening sanitation situation has also raised concerns over Shimla’s performance in the Swachh Survekshan rankings, as the growing pile-up of garbage could negatively impact the city’s cleanliness assessment.
Notably, a similar labour dispute nearly 12 years ago also led to the termination of 40 employees, making the current development reminiscent of an earlier phase of industrial unrest in the city.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
