Orders have reportedly been issued to penalize the SHGs entrusted with the sanitation work for their absence, sources say. Photo for representation purposes | Photo credit: MOHD ARIF
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) may soon start penalizing sanitation workers for high absenteeism, which has reportedly become an unmanageable task for officials.
Orders have reportedly been issued to penalize self-help groups (SHGs), which act as outsourcing agencies for the recruitment of sweepers, for absenteeism. Officials said on the condition of anonymity that in every circle with more than 50% absenteeism, the salary amount will be reduced by ₹2,000, which will be deposited in the SHG account.
High absenteeism among sanitation workers in the city is adversely affecting road sweeping services, officials say, justifying the punitive action.
Officials said reports are already being issued to assistant medical officers in each circle to explain the more than 20% absenteeism.
“In several areas, we have noticed only one sweeper instead of a group of seven. A few workers turn up once in 15-20 days just to avoid losing their jobs. Moonlighting and side businesses have become a trend which is adversely affecting the hygiene of the city,” said a senior official.
Gig work has become more attractive than road sweeping for a few workers who don’t mind losing a few days a month in wages that they can make up elsewhere.
Road sweeping contracts have been awarded to SHGs since 2012 following the termination of existing contracts with outsourcing agencies for providing labor for sweeping. The decision was taken in view of the exploitation resorted to by the agencies by deploying less sweepers than what is on paper and making them work more while paying only a portion of the sanctioned wages. To end the agencies, the then Special Commissioner Naveen Mittal announced that a large contract would be awarded to any group of seven women who came together to form an SHG.
The 18,000 sanitation workers in GHMC are now organized among more than 2,600 SHGs, with one or two women from each group acting as leaders. Salary amounts are deposited into the managers’ account, who distribute them among the sweepers. This system precluded exploitation due to equitable power dynamics between SHG partners.
Apart from absenteeism, another problem that the company has to deal with is death and runaway workers. As the staffing agencies disappeared, the task of getting new hands fell on the GHMC. Due to the corruption that is rife in the recruitment process, the government’s nod is being sought for this task as well.
The government recently approved the filling up of around 4,300 vacancies by relatives of deceased workers. Committees have been formed at the circle level, comprising the Deputy Commissioner, AMOH and the concerned zonal commissioner, who will recruit the workers, officials informed.
Published – 27 Oct 2025 20:07 IST
