📍 Introduction: Mohali’s Clean Image Tarnished by a Crisis of Waste
In the heart of Punjab, the city of Mohali — also known as SAS Nagar — is struggling under the weight of its own waste. Overflowing bins, the stench of decomposing garbage, and public frustration are painting an unusual picture of this otherwise well-organized urban space.
The reason? An ongoing strike by sanitation workers demanding better pay, job security, and dignity in labor.
While this issue may seem temporary, it highlights long-standing problems with urban sanitation, worker rights, and public participation. This article explores the roots of the strike, its effects on daily life, and how Mohali can transform this crisis into an opportunity for sustainable, community-driven solutions.
📅 The Strike: When It Began and Why
The sanitation workers’ strike in Mohali began in late June 2025. Hundreds of workers employed by the Municipal Corporation SAS Nagar halted waste collection across residential areas, commercial zones, and public institutions.
Their primary demands include:
- Regularization of contractual workers
- Timely disbursal of salaries
- Access to safety equipment (gloves, masks, boots)
- Health benefits and pension
- Dignity and recognition for their work
These demands are not sudden. Many workers claim they have been voicing concerns for years without resolution.
“We’re the ones who keep the city clean, but no one wants to clean our issues.”
— A sanitation worker protesting outside Phase 8 Municipal Office
🗑️ The Ground Reality: Garbage on Streets, Smell in the Air
The effects of the strike were visible within the first 48 hours:
- Dustbins overflowed in residential societies like Kharar, Sector 70, and Phase 3B2
- Open dumping began at roadside corners and vacant plots
- Markets and food joints in areas like Phase 5 and Sector 82 complained of foul odor
- School zones and parks reported increasing fly and mosquito infestations
In the July heat, decomposition accelerated, making the stench unbearable in many parts of the city. People were seen covering their noses with handkerchiefs, spraying deodorants in common areas, and even lighting incense near doorsteps.
🧬 Health and Environmental Risks
Doctors and environmentalists warn that unattended garbage is not just an eyesore — it’s a public health emergency.
Key concerns include:
- 🦟 Mosquito breeding grounds (leading to dengue, chikungunya)
- 🦠 Bacterial spread (from decomposing food, diapers, and sanitary waste)
- 🐀 Rodent infestation
- 🌫️ Foul air and bioaerosols affecting asthma and COPD patients
- 💧 Water source contamination in low-lying areas
Dr. Amanpreet Kaur, a general physician in Sector 68, explains:
“We’re already seeing more cases of stomach infections and skin allergies. If this continues, hospitals will face a sanitation-linked outbreak.”
🧓 Voices From Mohali’s Residents
Residents from all walks of life are feeling the pinch. From RWAs to business owners and school heads, frustration is growing — not toward the workers, but toward the lack of resolution.
“We support the workers’ demands. They work in the dirtiest conditions. But the city needs to act faster.”
— Harmeet Singh, RWA Member, Sector 66
“Our restaurant is losing customers due to the stink in the back alley. We can’t keep spraying perfume on trash.”
— Renu Sharma, Restaurant Owner, Phase 7 Market
“Children are falling sick. If hospitals, parks, and schools are not cleaned daily, this will get worse.”
— Sandeep Malhotra, Parent of 3
📈 Economic & Social Disruption
Besides health concerns, the strike is affecting:
- 🛍️ Businesses: Reduced footfall in local bazaars and malls
- 🚌 Public transport stops: Unhygienic conditions around bus stands and auto stations
- 🧑🏫 Schools: Inability to dispose of classroom and canteen waste
- 🏥 Clinics and labs: Difficulty in segregating and disposing of bio-waste
Housing societies are now hiring private garbage pickers at inflated rates — putting extra burden on middle-class residents.
🧑⚖️ Legality and Workers’ Rights
India’s Constitution guarantees the Right to Life (Article 21) and Right to Livelihood (Article 41). Sanitation workers, often employed on a contract basis, argue that they are denied both.
Labor activists point out that the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 demand humane treatment of workers and proper safety gear. Yet many are seen cleaning without gloves or masks.
🏛️ What the Municipal Corporation Says
Officials at Municipal Corporation Mohali (MCM) acknowledge the crisis but say budgetary constraints and administrative delays are holding back reforms.
An official (on condition of anonymity) said:
“We’re trying to bring in temporary workers and resume basic collection. But long-term demands need higher-level approval.”
🔄 Civic Engagement: The Need of the Hour
While authorities and workers continue negotiations, citizen awareness and participation can prevent further damage.
How Residents Can Help:
- 🗂️ Segregate waste at home: Wet, dry, and hazardous
- 🚫 Avoid dumping garbage in open areas or burning it
- 📣 Raise voices respectfully on social media for better sanitation policy
- 🧍 Organize community clean-up drives (where safe)
This is not just about one strike. It’s about making sanitation everyone’s responsibility, not just that of underpaid workers.
🔍 Lessons From Chandigarh and Panchkula
Both neighboring cities faced similar strikes in the past. Chandigarh used GPS-enabled collection vans and door-to-door awareness campaigns. Panchkula partnered with waste recyclers and NGOs for rapid cleanup.
Mohali can take similar action:
- Set up temporary transfer stations
- Recruit trained volunteers from civil defense, NSS units
- Offer incentives for segregation
- Initiate daily dialogue tables with unions
💬 Real Stories That Matter
Here are some stories from the frontline of the crisis:
🔹 Meena Devi, a 52-year-old sanitation worker, says she hasn’t missed a single day in 12 years.
“I get ₹8,000 a month, no gloves, no pension. But when we stop, the whole city stops noticing us.”
🔹 Rahul, a Class 9 student from Sector 71, says:
“We learned in school to keep our city clean. But who will clean the cleaners’ lives?”
These voices reflect the human cost of urban development.
🚀 The Road Ahead: Policy, Technology & Respect
What Mohali Needs Now:
- A Permanent Sanitation Workers’ Welfare Board
- Smart waste solutions (IoT dustbins, app-based pickups)
- Public-private partnerships for recycling
- Real-time complaint systems for residents
Most importantly, the dignity of labor must become more than a slogan.
✅ Final Thoughts: From Crisis to Reform
This garbage crisis in Mohali is not just about trash — it’s about systemic negligence, inequality, and civic inertia. But within this crisis lies the seed of urban reform.
We can either wait for a temporary fix, or we can use this opportunity to:
- Reimagine how our cities treat essential workers
- Build stronger, inclusive, green urban policies
- Encourage responsible citizenship, from schools to societies
“A clean city isn’t built with brooms. It’s built with respect, fairness, and shared responsibility.”
