COIMBATORE/CHENNAI: The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has increased wages of around 32,900 part-time sanitary workers who clean toilets in government schools across Tamil Nadu. The hike is likely to come into effect from May. However, workers and activists say the hike is long overdue and still inadequate.
The department issued a government order on Friday to revise the consolidated pay for sanitary workers employed by the respective local body. Under the revised pay structure, sanitary workers in primary schools will receive Rs 1,500 per month, up from Rs 1,000, while those working in middle schools will get Rs 2,300, an increase from Rs 1,500. Workers in government high schools will receive Rs 3,400, up from Rs 2,250, and those in higher secondary schools will be paid Rs 4,500, compared to the earlier Rs 3,000.
As many as 32,908 part-time sanitary workers are engaged in sanitation work in government schools across the state under consolidated pay. These workers clean toilets twice a day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
The wage revision follows a direction from the Madras High Court, which asked authorities to consider revising the salaries of school sanitary workers in view of their workload and the rising cost of living. To implement the revision, the government sanctioned an additional Rs 24.23 crore.
However, activists say the increase remains insufficient. K Thirupathi, a left-wing activist from Kallakurichi district, told TNIE that the revised wages are still far below what is needed for basic livelihood. He pointed out that sanitary workers in town panchayats receive around Rs 10,000 per month and demanded that the government extend a similar salary to all part-time sanitary workers in schools.
Sanitary workers also highlighted the heavy workload despite being categorised as part-time staff. A worker from Namakkal said that those employed in higher secondary schools often spend around six hours in two shifts cleaning the large number of toilets and urinals on campus. “The government should consider the school strength and the number of toilets and urinals while deciding wages,” the worker said.