The Indian Express                      22.03.2013

KKPKP protest enters Day 2 as delegation meets PCMC officials

Indefinite protests by as many as 150 members of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) outside the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation entered its second day on Thursday.

"KKPKP is repeatedly bringing into the notice of the PCMC authorities that the workers are being paid less wages than the stipulated Rs 254 under the Minimum Wages Act. After no response from the civic body, we decided to hold indefinite dharna from Wednesday," said Laxmi Narayan, a KKPKP member.

Another member Anita Dahake said, "The contractors are intimidating the workers and preventing them from joining the dharna."

A KKPKP delegation met Additional Commissioner Prakash Kadam along with Indalkar (Labour Welfare Officer, PCMC), Rajaram Chavan (SWM) and Amrutrao Sawant (Outgoing Additional Commissioner, PCMC) for over an hour to discuss about the technical aspects of the demands submitted by them.

"Kadam admitted that the records for February, 2013 compiled by KKPKP based on RTI information, prima facie indicated manipulation in the number of attendance days of waste pickers. He instructed the health department to settle the matter before March 31. However, he did not give any commitment on the discrepancies of the previous months nor was he willing to give any assurance on payments," said Narayan.

The workers have been employed by Messrs BVG Kshitij (wards B and C since January 2012) Gadgebaba Maharaj Berojgaar Sanstha, Ramabai Swayamrojgaar Seva Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit and Mahalakshmi Swayamrojgaar Seva Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit (A and D wards) who are in turn contracted by the PCMC for carrying out waste collection in PCMC.