SAT Workers Rally Against Job Loss Threat
Hyderabad: Swachh Auto Tippers (SAT) drivers staged a protest in front of the GHMC head office here on Friday, alleging that three municipal officials were trying to transfer their business to Re Sustainability Limited (formerly Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd).
“Most of the drivers participating in the protest are the sole breadwinners of their families. If this component of sanitation is handed over to Ramky, we will lose our jobs as the company will hire its own men and machines,” said one of the protesters.
SAT drivers from GHMC, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) participated in the show.
Following the protest, commissioners RV Karnan (GHMC), G. Srijana (CMC) and T. Vinay Krishna Reddy (MMC) met the drivers to discuss their demands regarding occupational safety and accident insurance. They promised prompt resolution of complaints and provision of institutional support, as well as accident insurance cover and job protection.
Commissioners called on SAT employees to cooperate in transforming the three-company jurisdictions into clean, garbage-free urban areas. They emphasized that cleanliness standards in the Core Urban Area Economy (CURE) should be strengthened so that no litter is visible on roadsides or in residential areas.
To streamline operations, each SAT will be monitored by a cleaning employee and measures will be taken to reduce waiting times at transfer stations. Waste collected by SATs is dumped at transfer stations before being transported to Jawahar Nagar Dumpyard.
According to sanitation officials, mapping work will be completed in the newly merged areas and door-to-door garbage collection will be strengthened.
