Hisar: The indefinite strike by sanitation and fire brigade employees of Fatehabad Municipal Council entered its 30th day on Thursday, with protesting workers resorting to a symbolic and unusual form of protest, collectively shaving their heads to express their anger against the state govt. More than a dozen employees underwent tonsure during the demonstration. Fire brigade employee and union leader Satbir Saharan said the workers had been on strike for the past 30 days following a call by their state committee, but govt had failed to address their demands.Saharan said shaving one’s head is traditionally associated with mourning after a death in Hindu culture. “For the past month, employees responsible for public sanitation and safety have been sitting on the streets, while the government has remained silent and inactive,” he said, adding that the workers had therefore symbolically treated the state govt as “dead” and shaved their heads in protest.He also alleged that govt had intensified action against striking employees. According to him, 14 regular employees were recently suspended and 10 state-level fire brigade union leaders were terminated. He claimed similar action was being initiated against union office-bearers in other districts. On govt’s warning of action under ESMA, Saharan said the employees would not be deterred by threats of FIRs, imprisonment or dismissal and would continue their agitation until their demands were met.Meanwhile, Fatehabad police have registered a case against 14 sanitation workers and another person on a complaint by the Municipal Council’s executive officer after garbage was allegedly dumped at the council office. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS.Caption of photo: Striking workers shave their heads in protest in Fatehabad.
