Rajasthan | Dalit Leader 'Vidrohi' Stages Unique Satyagraha: Vows No Shirt or Slippers Until Non-Valmiki Sanitation Workers Return to Core Cleaning Duties

Jodhpur- Tensions have been simmering among sanitation workers in Jodhpur Municipal Corporation for the past month, but the agitation led by the All India Sanitation Workers' Congress has now taken a dramatic turn amid the biting winter chill. District President Sardar Prakash Singh 'Vidrohi' marked Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Mahaparinirvan Diwas by staging a stark protest at Nagauri Gate Circle, sitting half-naked and barefoot before the statue of the Baba Saheb. His bold vow: "Until Municipal Commissioner Siddharth Palani Chamy implements the written agreement to reinstate 2018 non-Valmiki employees to core sanitation duties, I will wear neither clothes nor slippers." This demonstration not only amplifies the workers' three-point demands but also serves as a powerful statement against the mounting burden on the Valmiki community.

Jodhpur employs around 3,300 sanitation workers, including about 700 from non-Valmiki communities. These non-Valmiki staff have been reassigned from essential cleaning roles to administrative duties, leaving the entire workload on Valmiki workers. What was once a manageable span of 60 wards has ballooned to 100, doubling the pressure and sparking widespread resentment. The flashpoint came on November 15 when the corporation abruptly reassigned wards for 2,000 workers, igniting the protest.

Speaking exclusively to The Mooknayak, Vidrohi said, "Non-Valmiki employees are dodging core sanitation work, dumping the entire load on the Valmiki community. This has bred fury in our society. Commissioner Siddharth Palani Chamy hasn't even heeded the voices of elected representatives." A recent agreement, witnessed by MLAs Atul Bhanasali and Devendra Joshi, promised to restore all workers to their original posts and assign women and differently-abled staff to nearby wards, but it remains unimplemented.

The movement kicked off last week with chaotic scenes at the municipal office. Two rounds of talks between the union and the commissioner collapsed after hours of deadlock, with no consensus on demands. Friday saw the Valmiki members launch a sit-in outside the commissioner's office under their banner. Police barricaded the main gate to prevent protesters from entering, while leaders throughout the day raised slogans and questioned the corporation's opaque functioning.

Anil Teji outlined the three core demands: (1) Cancel the ward reassignments for 2,000 workers; (2) Abolish supervisory posts created in 2018; (3) Reassign 700 non-Valmiki employees to primary sanitation roles. Naresh Kandara issued a stark warning: "If demands aren't met, we'll launch a 'broom-down' strike." Saturday's bone-chilling cold amplified Vidrohi's half-naked satyagraha, turning it into the protest's defining image. This isn't just a battle for sanitation workers' rights, it's a crusade for the Valmiki community's honor and equitable treatment. The movement has garnered support from across the political spectrum including legislators and a former minister.