Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Best sanitary workers felicitated

VIJAYAWADA: An awards meeting organised by the public health wing of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) apparently pushed the ruling Congress to a corner as the Left parties opened a can of worms amidst hundreds of sanitary workers on Thursday.

The VMC organised the meeting to felicitate as many as 110 sanitary workers in recognition of their services and dedication to the duties.

All Congress leaders, including Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao, had to defend themselves or adopt offensive tactics when CPI (M) floor leader Ch. Babu Rao listed out the problems of sanitary workers in the city.

The venue became a forum for a squabble for the Congress and Left parties.

Mr. Babu Rao said that officials were harassing sanitary workers in the name of iris attendance and mandatory four times muster. The corporation was not paying even minimum wages prescribed by the government to the workers.

The workers had to spend one-fourth of their wages on transportation itself as the officials were giving them duties at far off places, he said, adding that sanitary workers should be given one month bonus on corporation’s silver jubilee celebrations. Vijayawada (West) MLA Sheik Nasar Vali also voiced similar views.

Responding to it, MP Lagadapati Rajagopal stated that some political parties needed to change their outlook.

Kankipadu MLA Devineni Rajasekhar criticised Mr. Babu Rao for his “free counselling.”

The MLA also recalled that the Left parties had never paid minimum wages during their rule.

Supporting his party colleagues’ arguments, the Minister said that the Left parties, which had not bothered about the welfare of the workers during their rule, had no moral right to speak about the issue now.

Mr. Ranga Rao, however, announced that the muster would be made thrice a day instead of four times.

He also said that the Government had constituted a committee to study the issues related to municipal administration. The committee was yet to submit its report, he said.

The VMC gave away Rs. 1,000 cash prize in addition to a memento and certificate to the winners.

Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Kolli Srikaruna Murthy said that Sanitary Inspectors’ remarks, local Residential Welfare Society’s observations and attendance were some of the factors taken into consideration while selecting the best sanitary workers.

The categories included best sweeper, best drain cleaner and best basket collector. Mayor Mallika Begum, Deputy Mayor Anne Prasanna, Municipal Commissioner Natarajan Gulzar, Congress floor leader in VMC Kunuku Rajasekhar and others also spoke.

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