'With petrol and rope atop tree'; Sanitation workers threaten suicide in front of TVM corporation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a concerning development, sanitation workers climbed a tree in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation premise and threatened suicide. Two sanitation workers, who used to collect organic waste as volunteers for years, climbed the tree and created panic in the area.

These workers have been protesting in front of the corporation for the last 16 days. It took big efforts from the fire force and police to bring down the workers and thwart the suicide attempt. The protest was against the corporation's move to remove the workers from their duties and assign Harita Karma Sena and other agencies the task of collecting organic waste.

It is also alleged that the vehicles used by these workers to collect organic waste have been seized by authorities, with huge fines also being levied. The protestors demand course correction from the corporation or else fear the move to destroy their livelihood.