VALPOI
A protest by sanitation workers at the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) in Poriem, Sattari, over the suspension of five women sanitation workers and a supervisor was withdrawn on Wednesday following the intervention of local MLA Deviya Rane.
The sanitation workers had gone on strike on Wednesday morning, demanding that the suspension notices be withdrawn. They had said they would not resume work until the action against them was revoked.
Following Rane’s intervention and discussions with the management, the suspension notices were reportedly withdrawn and the workers subsequently resumed their duties.
The sanitation workers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness on the GIM campus at Poriem.
A few days ago, the workers had collected garbage from the premises and kept it at a designated location. However, dogs reportedly scattered the garbage during the night, resulting in waste being spread around the area.
The matter came to the notice of students the following morning, following which a complaint was reportedly made to the institute management about the cleanliness of the campus.
Following the complaint, the management reportedly conducted an inquiry into the incident. Five women sanitation workers were suspended for allegedly failing to maintain proper cleanliness. The supervisor concerned was also suspended, according to the workers.
After receiving the suspension notices, the sanitation workers expressed dissatisfaction and questioned the action against them. They maintained that they had properly collected the garbage and that the waste was subsequently scattered by dogs.
Opposing the suspensions, the workers went on strike on Wednesday morning. They decided not to resume work unless the notices were withdrawn, raising concerns about the impact on regular sanitation services at the institute.
The workers also questioned the role of the supervisor. They said that after the garbage was scattered by dogs, the supervisor should have informed the management about the situation.
Demanding that the supervisor’s role also be examined before fixing accountability, they said responsibility for the incident should not have been placed solely on the sanitation workers without considering the circumstances.
After receiving information about the protest, Rane intervened in the matter. She reportedly contacted the women sanitation workers and heard their account of the incident. She subsequently discussed the matter with the institute management, according to the workers.
The workers said Rane urged the management to consider the circumstances before taking disciplinary action and ensure that the employees were not treated unfairly.
Following the discussions, the management reportedly withdrew the suspension notices.
Sanitation worker Ambika Sawant said, “MLA Deviya Rane took the matter seriously. She contacted us and understood the entire situation. After understanding our side, she discussed the matter with the management. Following her intervention, the suspension action against us was withdrawn.”
The sanitation workers expressed their gratitude to Rane for intervening in the matter.
