Nagpur Congress Corporator Stages Unusual Sanitation Protest Dressed as Worker
In a dramatic demonstration at the special general body meeting held at Suresh Bhat Auditorium on Tuesday, first-time Congress corporator Shailesh Pande from Prabhag 11 arrived dressed as a sanitary worker to protest the acute shortage of sanitation staff and deteriorating rubbish conditions in his ward.
Symbolic Gesture with Broom Denied Entry
Carrying a broom as part of his symbolic protest, Pande attempted to enter the House but was stopped by civic officials and security personnel, who cited rules prohibiting such items inside the hall. Denied entry with the broom, he remained outside the auditorium in traditional sanitation worker attire and continued his protest throughout the entire duration of the meeting.
From the beginning to the end of the session, he was seen sweeping outside the venue to emphasize his point about the sanitation crisis.
Frustration Over Unaddressed Civic Issues
Pande explained that residents of his ward elected him with expectations of resolving basic civic issues such as sanitation, drinking water, and sewerage. However, despite submitting repeated representations to Mayor Neeta Thakre and Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, no concrete steps have been taken to address these concerns.
He also claimed that there has been no assurance from the administration regarding convening a special meeting to tackle the city's sanitation crisis. "Until the administration, the mayor, and the commissioner take sanitation seriously and initiate corrective measures, I will attend every meeting dressed as a sanitation worker," Pande declared.
Severe Staff Shortages in Prabhag 11
Highlighting the ground situation in Prabhag 11 under the Mangalwari zone, Pande revealed that the ward has a population of nearly 75,000 and requires at least 300 sanitation workers for proper maintenance. However, the zone office recently provided a list of only 100 workers assigned to the area.
Of these, barely 60 were actually visible on the ground performing their duties, he claimed. Many workers were either elderly or unwell, which has severely affected cleaning operations and exacerbated public health concerns.
Unclean Drains Aggravating Health Risks
Pande further pointed out that several major drains, including stretches near the Pili river, remain unclean, aggravating health and hygiene issues in the area. This neglect contributes to the worsening sanitation conditions that prompted his unusual protest.
Official Response and Clarifications
An official from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) secretariat admitted that Pande was denied entry into the House for carrying a broom. "We allowed him to attend the special general body meeting without the broom, but he refused and insisted on bringing it inside," the official clarified, explaining the procedural decision.
Mayor Neeta Thakre responded by assuring that the issue raised by Pande would be resolved, noting that she has already issued directives to the solid waste management department to look into the matter urgently. She emphasized that she would not tolerate or compromise on the city's hygiene and sanitation standards.
The protest has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges in municipal waste management and the pressing need for adequate staffing and resources to maintain public health standards in Nagpur's urban areas.
