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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan on Sunday, August 17, said that Dalits engaged in sanitation work should be freed from such caste-based occupations, and not permanently tied to them through government jobs. The VCK chief made these remarks in the backdrop of the recent protest by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) sanitation workers.
Speaking at his 63rd birthday celebrations in Chennai, Thirumavalavan said that while the demand for permanent government jobs may appear fair, it reinforces the notion that those who clean human waste, drains, and garbage should continue doing so.
“As a student of Dr Ambedkar, we cannot say that. In fact, we must oppose it. Supporting the demand only because they are Dalits is a very traditional way of thinking. Our demand must be to rescue them from this occupation. Around the world, technology has replaced manual scavenging and sanitation work. That must be our direction,” he said.
Responding to criticism that he did not support the sanitation workers’ protest, Thirumavalavan said his party leaders had engaged with them throughout the agitation. “Comrade Sinthanai Selvan went on the fourth day. I joined on the fifth day, spent an hour with them, and on the sixth day I met the Chief Minister. I kept talking to ministers and the protest committee for all the 13 days,” he said.
The sanitation workers employed under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) had staged a protest in front of the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation, demanding a reversal of the civic body’s decision to privatise solid waste management in Zones 5 and 6.
Under the NULM scheme, they earn about Rs 23,000 per month. But after privatisation, their wages could be reduced to around Rs 15,000. While private sector workers are entitled to Provident Fund (PF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), protestors argued that the take-home pay would be significantly lower, making it difficult to cover basic living costs. The workers also demanded regularisation of their jobs and basic labour rights.
The birthday celebrations were attended by Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments PK Sekar Babu, Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan, VCK leaders Sinthanai Selvan and Vanniarasu, and others.