Patna: An eight-day strike by sanitation workers across Bihar’s urban local bodies, including the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), ended on Thursday after representatives of the workers’ union held talks with Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitish Mishra.
The meeting, attended by Patna Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, concluded with the Sanitation Workers’ Struggle Committee announcing the withdrawal of the strike, bringing relief to residents after days of disrupted waste collection.
Government Assures Action On Workers’ Demands
Following the meeting, Chandra Prakash Singh, president of the Patna Municipal Corporation Joint Employees’ Union, said the government had agreed to several key demands.
“The government is committed to the welfare of sanitation workers and outsourced staff employed in urban local bodies. The consolidated pay scale for daily-wage employees will be revised. They will receive benefits comparable to permanent employees, including leave, gratuity and bonuses,” he said.
Urban Development Minister Nitish Mishra said the government would take all necessary decisions in the interest of sanitation workers.
“I thank all the employees who placed their trust in us. We will take whatever decisions are necessary for those who work for our city. Consensus has been reached on several issues, while a committee will be constituted to examine others. Certain decisions will require the approval of the State Council of Ministers,” he said.
According to the minister, agreement was reached on several demands during the discussions, while other issues will be examined by a committee before a final decision is taken.
Three Demands Already Cleared
The breakthrough followed a meeting of the PMC Standing Committee on Tuesday, chaired by Mayor Sita Sahu, where consensus was reached on three demands raised by the sanitation workers.
The mayor had said the proposals would be forwarded to the Urban Development Department, raising expectations that the strike would soon be resolved.
Strike Left City Grappling With Garbage
The strike had severely disrupted sanitation services across Patna.
According to municipal estimates, more than 3,600 tonnes of garbage accumulated across the city during the first seven days of the agitation. Continuous rainfall worsened the situation, with decomposing waste creating foul odours and raising concerns over the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
Garbage collection came to a standstill in several neighbourhoods, with waste piling up in areas including Maurya Lok, Kankarbagh, Kadamkuan, Jagat Narayan Road, Khetan Market, and Veerchand Patel Path.
Residents had repeatedly urged the government to resolve the deadlock as sanitation conditions deteriorated.
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Agencies Face Financial Penalties
During the strike, the Patna Municipal Corporation also took action against outsourcing agencies responsible for sanitation services.
The civic body imposed penalties totalling Rs 63.16 crore on the agencies for allegedly failing to provide the required manpower and vehicles and issued them a third show-cause notice, warning of further action.
