Narmada: Machine replaces cleaners at Statue of Unity, 150 tribal workers sacked
India Today
As many as 150 workers have been fired after the tourism regulatory authority terminated the cleaning contract and decided to use machines for cleaning the Statue of Unity and its area.
A lot of displeasure can be seen among 150 janitors who have been sacked after the tourism regulatory authority terminated the cleaning contract.
Initially, the cleaning contract was given to Khangi agency, and around 150 workers were hired for cleaning work. But now, the contract has been given to Vadodara Municipal Corporation, who have mounted machines.
When the Statue of Unity was built, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that local tribals would get employment. But due to sudden replacement, workers have lost their only means to earn a livelihood.
One of the workers named Daksha Ben Tadvi said "We have been doing cleaning and bell work for the last 4 years, due to which our Gujarat was running, but suddenly we have been dismissed from the job. If they had to bring machines for cleaning, they should have been brought in advance because we have been working here for 4 years. Now where will we go? We used to work from Taluka Panchayat to the area of Viewpoint."
Local women leader Kokilaben Tadvi said, "These people have been sacked from the job but have not given any prior order. These people were working since 2018, so the government has talked about giving employment on one side, but on the other hand, their jobs are being snatched away.
She said that all these people are the original owners of the land here. "Their land was taken in return for employment and now they have been fired from the same," added Kokilaben.
The development work is being done on the land that originally belonged to tribal people. With the decision to replace man with machines, these people have lost their jobs and lands as well.
