Ayodhya buzzes with pre-Holi anticipation, but a labor storm brews. Sanitation employees, fuming over triple-month salary arrears, initiated a full-scale strike Thursday. The work stoppage imperils the sacred city’s hygiene as festival crowds loom.
Rallies rocked areas from Sahadatganj to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, with demands echoing for overdue payments. Workers recount futile appeals to bosses, followed by stalled transfers. A recent pledge for March 2 deposits faces skepticism over holiday closures.
Raw emotions surfaced in interviews. ‘Strike stays until money flows,’ one affirmed. Hardships mount: ‘No pay, no medicine for the sick,’ lamented another. Partial payouts – 8,000 or 9,000 rupees – plague the 3,000-plus workforce.
This crisis exposes cracks in local governance, especially critical for Ayodhya’s tourism-driven economy. Filth during Holi would repel devotees, damaging the Ram temple narrative.
Leaders must prioritize disbursal and dialogue. Beyond immediate fixes, policy overhauls promise sustained sanitation stability, preserving Ayodhya’s divine prestige amid joyous celebrations.