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More than 200 workers, who were previously with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), were detained by the police during their protest for job regularisation near two zonal offices on Saturday. The protesters, led by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), were asked to return to their homes at 6 p.m., the police said. The workers have been protesting against the privatisation of solid waste management in Royapuram and Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar Zones since August. They submitted a petition to the GCC stating that they were willing to work, even without salary, to prevent water stagnation during the monsoon. “For the sake of public health, we request that work be assigned to us (the workers) immediately, within the Corporation, under NULM,” the petition said. A member of the UUI further said this move demonstrated the workers’ refusal to join the private firm. Meanwhile, zonal officials said conservancy work was still being managed by the private firm, and that those interested, such as members of the public or NGOs, could assist. They have not joined the private firm, and the decision to reverse the outsourcing cannot be taken by local authorities. Therefore, when they staged a roadblock near the two zonal offices, the police detained them,” the authorities said.
