Caste bogey still haunts safai workers

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN
Gandhinagar: It’s not just villages tucked away in remote corners of the state where caste discrimination prevails. Bogey of cast prejudice haunts Valmikis (Dalits) working as safai kamdars in the state capital too. Around 80 part-time safai workers, mostly women, have been on dharna for the past 35 days here to protest the discrimination they face. These part-time workers are responsible for cleaning all public spaces in the city and are paid Rs 30 for four hours of work. Sometimes, they don’t even get work. According to information obtained under RTI, non-Dalits selected as part-time safai kamdars get to work longer hours and are paid more in the notified area in Gandhinagar. Members of upper castes are recruited as part-time safai kamdars since there are vacancies in this department. But, they are given better jobs like drivers, gardeners and watchmen and have to work for more than four hours. “Many Valmikis have been working as safai workers for the past 15 years. But, non-Valmikis are given six hours of work and paid accordingly. We came to know of this discrimination under RTI,’’ says Bharat Vaghela, a safai kamdar in Gandhinagar. Officials said there are many part-time safai kamdars who are Desais, Rajputs and Brahmins in Gandhinagar. “People who joined as safai kamdars haven’t been doing cleaning work for a long time. So, they were given other since they belong to upper castes,” says Gauri Vaadodara, a safai worker. When contacted, chief officer (notified area), KN Chavda, said government has decided to increase wages to Rs 54.70 for four hours of work as per minimum wages. He denied there was discrimination. “A driver or watchman would have to work for over four hours and so are paid accordingly.’’ Agreed. But, the question remains — why are they not given cleaning work when they have been recruited as safai kamdars?