Sanitation workers who have been staging a prolonged protest in Chennai over job security, better wages, and other demands saw tensions escalate late last night when four workers were admitted to hospital after health issues during police transportation.
For several months, sanitation workers have been protesting demanding permanent employment status, wage hikes and improved working conditions. The agitation intensified recently when over 100 sanitation workers staged a sit-in outside the Ripon Building, headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation, drawing heavy police presence.
Police from various stations — including Periyamedu and Vepery — intervened and arrested 45 sanitation workers (33 women and 12 men), taking them to the Kannappar Thidal community hall as part of crowd control efforts. Officers urged the workers to disperse, but they continued their protest instead of leaving the site.
While being moved to the bus at night, four workers — Saraswathi, Nirmala, Maheshwari, and Thanalakshmi — reportedly felt unwell and suffered health issues such as difficulty breathing. Fellow protesters requested police to take them to KMC Hospital, but instead the bus headed directly toward Kodambakkam. Frustrated, the workers raised slogans demanding medical attention while still on board.
Police then took the affected sanitation workers to a private hospital in Vadapalani for first aid, and subsequently transferred them to the Government Hospital at Kodambakkam for further treatment. Other protesting sanitation workers have gathered at Kodambakkam hospital to support their hospitalized colleagues.
The ongoing protest by sanitation staff echoes wider concerns across Tamil Nadu over the outsourcing of sanitation work and demands for regular jobs and fair wages — an issue that has seen repeated demonstrations and criticism at both city and state levels.