Nagpur: Growing concerns over the safety of women sanitary workers in Nagpur came to the forefront on Thursday after women sanitation employees from Prabhag No. 8 met mayor Neeta Thakre and standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare, demanding stronger security measures following repeated incidents of harassment during early morning sweeping work in Mominpura.The meeting was held in the backdrop of the recent incident in which a woman sanitary worker was allegedly teased and abused by unidentified persons while on duty in the locality. The issue triggered protests among sanitation workers, who briefly stalled cleaning operations on Wednesday, demanding immediate action against the accused.During the interaction with the mayor, the women workers’ delegation under Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha submitted multiple issues detailing instances of harassment, intimidation, and insecurity faced while cleaning narrow lanes and isolated stretches during pre-dawn hours.Later, speaking to the media, Mayor Neeta Thakre stated that the civic administration had taken the matter seriously and an FIR had already been registered with the police. She said officials were gathering details to determine whether one or more persons were involved.Calling the incident a serious violation of women’s rights, Thakre said the safety of sanitation workers was the responsibility of both the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and police authorities. She said civic and police officials would jointly identify vulnerable spots where women workers face threats during duty hours.The mayor also referred to videos and complaints submitted by workers highlighting unsafe and narrow lanes in the locality where the alleged harassment occurred. She indicated that the administration may consider deploying male workers or revising duty patterns in sensitive pockets if required.Standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare assured the workers that special measures would be taken to strengthen their safety during field duties.Demanding strict action against those harassing women sanitary workers, the delegation warned that if adequate security was not provided, sanitation work in Mominpura could be stopped.
