Panchkula: Signs of a breakthrough emerged in the month-long sanitation workers’ strike Tuesday, with 15 protesting safai karamcharis resuming duty after a meeting with municipal corporation commissioner Vinay Kumar. Officials said more workers are expected to return in the coming days.The development comes a day before the expiry of the three-day extension given by the workers after their 30-day strike. It remains unclear whether the agitation will be called off or prolonged further.Kumar said workers were informed that civic bodies elsewhere had begun taking action against employees participating in the strike and urged them to resume work to avoid affecting their livelihoods.“Fifteen workers immediately rejoined duty following the meeting and are already working in the field. We expect more to return,” he said.The commissioner also cited the Haryana govt’s recent announcement of benefits for eligible contractual employees, including DA, DCRG, maternity leave and hardship allowance. Workers with over 10 years of service would be entitled to a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹25,560.Kumar maintained that garbage lifting from vulnerable points continued throughout the strike and claimed Panchkula’s sanitation situation remained better managed than in several other municipal areas despite the disruption.
