Jaipur- The Rajasthan government’s new policy for recruiting around 25,000 sanitation workers has sparked intense anger among the Valmiki community and sanitation workers’ organisations.

Former Minister Surendra Singh Jadawat has strongly criticised the Bhajan Lal government, saying it is preparing to keep youths on contract for five years in the name of providing employment. He termed it as injustice to unemployed youth, especially the Valmiki community.

Jadawat warned that while the probation period in regular government jobs is only two years, imposing a five-year contractual condition creates a major discrepancy. This could lead to the matter going to court, causing the entire recruitment process to get stuck, and would amount to a big betrayal of the Valmiki community.

Jadawat said, “The right to employment is the right of the youth, not a favour. By imposing a five-year contract condition, the government is playing with the dreams of the youth. We will raise our voice at every level to protect the honour and rights of the Valmiki community.”

Following Jadawat, Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’, District President of Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Congress, Jodhpur, also attacked the government, calling it an open injustice to the community.

In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’ said, “This step by the government is a major injustice to the community. When the government itself has only 2.5 years left, recruiting on a five-year contract and promising regularisation later is ridiculous. The government is itself violating constitutional provisions.”

Why is the 5-year contract probation considered ridiculous?

The recruitment is being carried out under the Rajasthan Contractual Recruitment Rules, 2022 by the Department of Local Self-Government. As per the new policy, selected candidates will have to work on a contractual basis for the first five years. They will receive fixed salary during this period, and only after evaluation of their performance, discipline, and fulfilment of responsibilities at the end of five years will their regular appointment be considered.

The Valmiki community has been at the forefront of maintaining cleanliness in cities and towns for years, often under extremely difficult conditions. However, the new policy does not give any special preference to any particular community. Only the general reservation policy will apply.

Valmiki leaders consider this provision completely impractical and unjust. Vidrohi questioned how the promise of regularisation after five years can be fulfilled when the government’s own tenure is only 2.5 years left. He called it a betrayal of unemployed youth.

Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’ gave the example of Jodhpur and said, “There are a total of 3,500 sanitation workers in the municipal corporation, but in reality, only about 1,600 are working in the field. The rest have been adjusted in offices. People from the general category, who have political connections, get posted in offices through recommendations of councillors and leaders. Meanwhile, poor workers from the Valmiki community keep toiling in the scorching heat and sun from 6:30 AM to 2 PM cleaning filth in their assigned areas.”

He added, “We respect reservation, but after getting recruited through reservation, non-Valmiki candidates get adjusted in offices after some time. The real work of cleaning filth, excreta and garbage is once again left only to the Valmiki community. Where Babasaheb had uplifted us from, today’s Manuvadi governments have pushed us back to the same place.”

Controversial history of recruitment

The recruitment process for sanitation workers has been cancelled twice in the last five years. During the Congress government, recruitment for 13,184 posts was withdrawn in 2023. The BJP government cancelled the recruitment drive for 23,820 posts in August 2024. The controversies mainly revolved around experience certificates, forged documents, and eligibility criteria. Valmiki organisations have consistently demanded priority in these recruitments.

The government has stated that no special preference will be given to any particular community. The recruitment will be conducted as per Rajasthan’s existing reservation policy.

The Department of Local Self-Government Secretary Ravi Jain has clarified that newly recruited sanitation workers will be assigned only sanitation-related duties.

Valmiki community leaders and sanitation workers’ organisations are now preparing for a statewide agitation against this policy. Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’ said that a protest and memorandum to the Chief Minister will be submitted soon on this issue.