Almost exactly around this time last year, the Union Urban Development Ministry released the Swachh Survekshan results—ranking of 73 cities based on cleanliness and other aspects of urban sanitation. The exercise, aimed at fostering a healthy competition among cities for improving cleanliness standards, is well underway this year too. Vijayawada, now the administrative capital of Andhra Pradesh, was ranked 23 in 2016 and was categorised among the so-called ‘Aspiring Leaders’.
The performance of the cities is assessed by the Quality Council of India and the survey also takes into account citizen feedback. Till date, a little over 50,000 residents in Vijayawada have participated in it. But it is doubtful if any one of them spared a thought for the plight of women who are on the frontline of this Swachh campaign. Many of them have not been paid salaries for the last five-six months. This, at a time when life in the city has become a costly proposition, thanks to the proposed construction of the new capital, Amaravati, nearby and the steady influx of people into the city.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has entrusted the task of maintaining sanitation to private contractors who hire the staff on contract basis. In many cases, even if the salaries are paid, the variance between the amount paid and the actual figure, shows exploitation is rampant. The worst part is, the same story has been recurring for years. The civic body believes its work is done by simply nominating the contractors. Is it? Illuminating the barrage and buildings serves no purpose if the people who actually do the dirty job are ignored. This is not confined to Vijayawada alone. Non-payment of salaries to sanitation staff has been an issue in Delhi and other cities too. Unfortunately, it hits the headlines only when the staff, left with no other option, resort to strikes and the cities stink. Treating the Swachh worker like dirt is no way to achieve Swachh Bharat.