Contract workers stage protest at Ambedkar Smriti Vanam, seek immediate payment of pending salaries

The contract workers staged a protest near the main gate of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Smrithi Vanam on Friday (October 31, 2025) demanding immediate release of their nine months pending salaries. Supported by leaders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Kula Vyatireka Porata Samithi (KVPS) the workers condemned the government and the contractor for being indifferent to their financial woes.

They alleged that officials from the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and police tried to bring in sanitation workers to carry out the task of cleaning up the place, but they resisted. The workers also interrupted a meeting of the officials in progress at the Smrithi Vanam conference hall and demanded clarity on payment of their salaries.

They said they had met senior officials, including Ajay Jain, NTR district Collector Lakshmisha and Director, Department of Culture Mallikarjuna Rao and submitted petitions but none of them took the matter forward.

CPI-(M) State executive committee member Ch. Baburao, KVPS State general Secretary A. Malyadri, and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) district secretary Kaja Saroj expressed solidarity with the protesting workers.

Mr. Baburao criticised the government stating that while it celebrated Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy by installing a 150-foot statue, it failed to pay the workers who maintained the site. He accused the coalition government of deceiving workers despite promises of support and said that the authorities were whiling away precious time instead of addressing the problem.

Mr. Malyadri warned that if the 34 contract workers’ salaries were not paid immediately, the entire Ambedkar Smrithi Vanam would be shut down and the protest would be intensified.

CITU’s central wing president K. Durga Rao, KVPS district secretaries G. Kranthi Kumar and Kaja Saroj, CITU leaders M. Baburao, Y. Subbarao, M. Someswararao, B. Laxman, G. Konda and several contract workers, including P. Sunitha, P. Vijay Kumari, P. Mary, M. Sujatha, Y. Deepika, K. Anusha, P. Satyavati, K. Dhanalakshmi, C.h. Mallika, Haritha, L. Therojamma, and Lakshmi. participated in the protest.