Varanasi: High voltage drama unfolded at the BHU gate in Lanka area and at Sardar Patel Maldahiya crossing where scores of sanitary workers dumped garbage and staged demonstration demanding wage hike, on Wednesday morning. They said they are compelled to work for up to 18 hours a day, so their remuneration should be increased judiciously.Taking note of the demonstration, Varanasi Municipal Corporation warned the sanitary staff asking not to get misled with false information to indulge in protests since govt order for wage hike had been implemented by the corporation with immediate effect and nearly 4,000 sanitation workers would be receiving 2 months’ arrears with effect from Apr 1.Traffic was paralysed on both crossings of the city at the busiest hour when people were heading to their workplaces. Sanitation workers expressed their anger by dumping garbage collected from several areas of the city on the roads, alleging unjust wages and working hours.Personnel from Lanka and Sigra police stations reached both crossings and convinced the protestors to call off their stir. Later, VMC officials reached the spot and ensured removal of garbage dumped at both crossings.Releasing its official statement in the evening, VMC said that in view of the recently issued GO, it has decided to increase salary of outsourced sanitation workers from Apr 1, 2026. Accordingly, outsourced sanitation workers will now receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 13,006. Moreover, nearly 4,000 sanitation workers will also be provided arrears (dues) for past 2 months.VMC said some disturbing elements had misled sanitation workers in past few days regarding wage hike. Some organisations claimed govt salary had been increased to Rs 18,000–Rs 20,000 scale. Putting a stop to this, additional municipal commissioner Savita Yadav clarified that govt order related to wage hike was received this month and implemented with immediate effect. From next month, the increased amount will be credited to the workers’ bank accounts.Sanitation workers fall under the ‘unskilled’ category, and accordingly, their honorarium has been fixed at Rs 13,006 under govt order, which includes dearness allowance of Rs 765. She appealed to sanitation workers not to be misled in any manner and not to believe any misleading information. Along with increase in honorarium, benefits of govt welfare schemes are also being extended to these workers, under which sanitation workers are now being covered under the ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’ and Namaste Yojana to ensure better health security for them.
