Cleanliness Goes for a Toss as Valmiki Community Sanitation Workers Strike Over Recruitment Dispute in Rajasthan

The sanitation workers’ strike in Jaipur, led by the Samyukta Valmiki and Safai Karmachari Sangh, has severely disrupted the city’s waste management system. Over 6,000 Valmiki workers are demanding preferential recruitment, causing garbage to pile up in the streets and drains, especially in non-upscale areas. The municipal corporation is struggling to manage the situation, particularly with the added challenge of rain. Despite multiple strikes and a petition in the High Court, the government has not taken decisive action. The Valmiki community opposes the proposed lottery system for recruitment, insisting on priority for those with previous experience and ongoing court cases.