AYODHYA, Uttar Pradesh – Just days before the vibrant festival of Holi, Ayodhya faces a mounting sanitation crisis. Hundreds of sanitation workers launched a strike on Thursday, halting operations after three months without salaries. The workers’ frustration has boiled over into widespread protests across key city areas.
The strike began amid repeated delays in wage payments, leaving families struggling and essential services in jeopardy. From Sahadatganj to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, workers marched with slogans demanding immediate payment of dues. They claim multiple complaints to officials have fallen on deaf ears, with no funds credited to their bank accounts despite assurances.
‘We’ve been promised payments time and again, but nothing happens,’ one protesting worker told reporters. ‘Officials now say salaries will arrive by March 2, but how, with banks closed for holidays?’ The timing couldn’t be worse, as Holi approaches, bringing hordes of pilgrims to the holy city.
Personal stories underscore the hardship. One worker revealed, ‘Three months without pay – some colleagues are ill but can’t afford treatment.’ Another added, ‘We get partial salaries sometimes – 8,000 or 9,000 rupees instead of full amounts. Over 3,000 workers are affected.’
City authorities have pledged swift action, but skepticism runs high. Without resolution, Ayodhya’s streets risk turning filthy during peak festival season, tarnishing the image of Lord Ram’s birthplace. The standoff highlights deeper issues in municipal management, urging higher intervention before the situation spirals.