Police personnel deployed in the area stopped the protest citing law and order concerns and detained the workers at the spot.
Published Jan 03, 2026 | 3:34 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 03, 2026 | 3:34 PM
File photo of sanitation workers protesting in Chennai. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The workers have been staging protests for the past few months, alleging that discussions held with the government have not resulted in any agreement. As part of their agitation, they gathered near the Commissioner’s residence to press their long-pending demands.
Around 100 sanitation workers from Zones V (Royapuram) and VI (Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar) were detained, on Saturday, 3 January, after they attempted to lay siege to the residence of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.
The workers were protesting against the proposed privatisation of civic sanitation work and demanded that they be taken back under the GCC.
The workers have been staging protests for the past few months, alleging that discussions held with the government have not resulted in any agreement. As part of their agitation, they gathered near the Commissioner’s residence to press their long-pending demands.
Police personnel deployed in the area stopped the protest citing law and order concerns and detained the workers at the spot.
In August 2025, as many as 1,953 workers from Zones 5 and 6—many of whom had been serving under the Greater Chennai Corporation for 10 to 15 years—began their protest after the Corporation announced that they would have to work under private concessionaires, Urbaser Sumeet and Ramky Enviro.
Thousands of sanitation workers opposed the move and participated in the protest.
“I have worked for the Corporation for 11 years,” M Arul, one of the protesters, told South First in August 2025, adding, “We worked during Covid. We cleaned your streets during floods. And now suddenly, we are told that we’re not needed anymore!”
Sanitation workers like Arul say that the shift to a private contractor will slash their salaries from around ₹23,000 to as low as ₹13,000–₹15,000. “My house rent alone is ₹10,000,” said Arul.
“If we’re paid only ₹13,000 or ₹15,000, we’ll be left with barely ₹3,000 or ₹5,000. How are we supposed to survive in this city with that? What will we eat? How will we raise our children?” he asked.
However, in September, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has assured the Madras High Court, that conservancy workers in Zones V (Royapuram) and VI (Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar) will continue to receive their previous salary until the resolution of an ongoing industrial dispute.
(With inputs from Veni EN)
