Conservancy workers’ unions demand revised summer work hours after man dies on duty in Madurai

Conservancy workers’ unions demand revised summer work hours after man dies on duty

In a tragic incident, a 55-year-old conservancy worker, identified as Manivel, of Adi Dravidar Colony in Naganakulam, Madurai, died on Sunday (April 28, 2025) as he was clearing garbage.

Manivel reportedly fainted due to the heat while removing garbage from a locality in Ward 5 of Madurai Corporation, and in the process, hit his head on a stone. He suffered a head injury and was rushed to Government Rajaji Hospital, where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’. The temperature at the time of the incident was 39.5 degrees Celsius.

As news of the incident spread, officer-bearers of workers’ unions appealed to the authorities concerned to consider changing their work hours until the end of summer.

Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, Balasubramanian of the CITU said that while the civic body was willing to advance the starting time to 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., the workers felt it was too early, as they might not be able to complete their domestic chores at home.

The workers’ unions had given insurance cover to all conservancy workers, and in the event of death due to an accident while at work, their legal heir would get ₹5 lakh, Mr. Balasubramanian said.

The workers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the civic body should immediately address the issue of staff shortage and provide potable water and glucose or buttermilk to workers until the end of summer, similar to how traffic police personnel are supplied lemon juice by their department.

The workers, affiliated with CITU, further said they were ready to work from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and not after that, until the end of summer. They wanted the civic authorities not to give them special duty, such as mass cleaning or VIP duty, during the summer season. The corporation should recruit workers who could be assigned mass cleaning and other duties, they said.