Sanitation workers in Chennai, who have been staging ongoing protests demanding permanent jobs and an end to privatisation of cleansing duties under the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), continued their agitation overnight after being detained by police and not released as expected.
The protests involve workers from Zone 5 (Royapuram) and Zone 6 (Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar) of the GCC, who have been agitating for several months against plans to hand over sanitation work to private contractors and seeking regularisation of their employment.
As part of the latest phase of demonstrations, sanitation workers held rallies at multiple locations in the city, including near Anna Salaiās Arivalayam, where more than 500 workers were reportedly arrested during a sitāin protest. Unlike earlier actions where arrested protesters were released the same evening, the workers remained detained into the next morning and cases have been filed against them, prompting sustained resistance from the detained workers.
With their release delayed, the workers refused to go home and chose to continue their protest within the community and marriage halls where they were held, insisting that their demands be met before ending the agitation. The prolonged sitāin has kept many workers inside these venues throughout the night, maintaining pressure on authorities.
City police and GCC officials have stepped up security at the halls and sealed entry points to prevent protesters from leaving temporarily, while also ensuring no disruption occurs outside. However, sanitation workers have vowed to persist until their core demands are addressed.