Instead of Washing Feet, We Would’ve Felt Better if Modiji Wiped Our Tears: Sanitation Workers Protest In Delhi
The protestors demanded an end to sewer deaths, better working conditions, safety equipment and more.
New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of five sanitation workers at the Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, workers from across the country assembled in New Delhi on Monday, February 25 to press their demands for safer working conditions, modern equipment and implementation of sub-quota for sanitation workers, among other things.
According to a Go News24x7 report by Anjali Ojha, the protesting sanitation workers have underlined that Modi should have focused on their “real needs” instead of washing their feet. Speaking to the reporter, an Agra-based sanitation worker said, “For merely Rs 6,000-7,000 our people (workers) are dying in septic tanks. The government is completely ignoring these deaths and not even paying any attention. Today, our people don’t have the proper equipment to use while entering septic tanks. In foreign countries, they use machines for such work. We say our country is developing, but safai karmacharis are dying on a daily basis.”
Also read: Clean Your Mind, Not Our Feet: Bezwada Wilson Slams PM Modi
Another sanitation worker pointed out that they need masks for their faces, glasses to cover their eyes, gloves, proper shoes and caps for their work, adding that government should provide job to a family member when a sanitation worker dies on duty. “Instead of washing our feet, we would have felt better if Modiji wiped our tears,” she told Go News24x7.
Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav also participated in the protest at Jantar March. He underlined that the conditions of sanitation workers have worsened under the Modi government. “The government has not released a single rupee for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Yadav tweeted.
Thanks for washing their feet, @PMOIndia
Now do you want to listen to their man ki baat?
Thousands of Safai workers are coming to Jantar Mantar today to demand:
* End to sewer deaths
* Better working conditions
* Implementation of reservations
* Sub quota for Safai communities https://t.co/65QWTQQPoA— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) February 25, 2019
सीवर सफाई कर्मचारियों की मौत कब तक? आज जब राजनीतिक दल अपने चुनावी घोषणा पत्र बना रहे हैं, क्या वे सीवर कर्मचारियों की लगतार हो रही मौतों से उद्वेलित हैं? क्या कोई भी दल पूरी ईमानदारी से इस समस्या का कोई समाधान सुझा सकता है? #SayNoToSewerDeathshttps://t.co/8a88CwD8W1
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) February 25, 2019