Students allege increase in filth due to contract workers' strike at JNU

Students have alleged that filth has increased in the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi and a foul smell is spreading due to non-collection of garbage, following a strike by contract sanitation workers. According to a Hindustan Times report, the agitation entered its eighth day by Tuesday.

Approximately 650 sanitation workers have been on strike since November 2. Among them, 250 workers are appointed for hostel cleaning, while the remaining workers are responsible for cleaning academic buildings, dining areas, and internal roads. The primary demands of these workers include Diwali bonus, an increase in the number of employees, paid leave, and the formation of a grievance redressal cell.

Ranvijay, a PhD scholar residing in Satluj Hostel, stated that toilets which are normally cleaned daily are now being cleaned once every three to four days. He added that there are approximately 8 contract staff and 2 permanent staff in the hostel. Since the contract staff are on strike, the entire workload is on the two permanent employees, resulting in dustbins not being cleared and garbage spreading across the hostel and school buildings.

Praveen K. Piyush, a resident of Mahi Mandvi Hostel, stated that there are 22 staff members in the hostel, of which 14 are contract and 8 are permanent, but the permanent employees work in shifts. He said that the workers' demands are reasonable and the administration should resolve them at the earliest. Piyush further mentioned that on the first day of the strike, when mess workers also joined, only dal-chawal were served in the hostel mess; however, the mess workers later returned to work, while the sanitation workers continue their agitation.

Sanjeev Vaide, 37, who has been working at JNU for the last two decades, stated that there is a huge difference in the salaries of contract and permanent sanitation workers. He said that he receives approximately ₹21,000 monthly, while permanent staff receive around ₹60-70,000. Despite such a large difference, they do not even receive a bonus for the once-a-year festival. Vaide alleged that when they contact the administration, they are sent to the contractor, and the contractor sends them back to the administration.

Surya Prakash, a PhD scholar in Informal Sector and Labour Studies who is involved in the negotiation process, stated that two demands—paid leave (casual and earned leave) and the formation of a grievance redressal cell—have been accepted. However, the demands for Diwali bonus for 2026 and an increase in the number of employees remain unfulfilled. He mentioned that four rounds of negotiations have taken place between the Labour Commissioner, the administration, and the contractor.

On the other hand, the university administration has denied any disruption in campus operations. An official of the administration stated that appropriate steps have been taken as per the conciliation process ongoing before the Regional Labour Commissioner of New Delhi regarding the complaints of outsourced workers. The university is committed to bringing a positive and amicable solution to this problem through dialogue and discussion in the interest of all stakeholders. Furthermore, the official stated that the university's hostel messes are functioning smoothly with sufficient workers.