Conservancy workers’ protest in Chennai: Over 300 detained for gathering at May Day Park

The Greater Chennai City Police detained over 300 conservancy workers and members of the Left Trade Union Centre (LTUC) and Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), who had gathered at the May Day Park in Chintadripet on Thursday (September 4, 2025).

Lakshmi, one of the workers who was previously with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), said they had gathered to attend a general meeting called by the Iyakkam at 11 a.m. to discuss further actions to be taken after the Madras High Court order that allowed the privatisation of conservancy work.

These workers, headed by UUI and LTUC, were among the many who protested against the privatisation of conservancy work in Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar Zones.

Workers gather at May Day Park in Chintadripet on Thursday
| Photo Credit:
R. Aishwaryaa

Meanwhile, another worker said the gathering was to collectively hand over a petition to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was expected to attend an ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ camp nearby. A pamphlet claiming a protest was to be held at park was also circulated via messaging apps, she added.

Priya, whose mother, aunt, and mother-in-law were among those detained, said, “My husband’s salary is minimal, so we relied on their earnings to manage our household. I have only completed class 10 and am currently unemployed because I need to take care of four children, including a three-month old girl. UUI has been calling meetings, and this was one such meeting. We hope the State reverses the decision to privatise solid waste management as a salary reduction will adversely hit our livelihoods.”

The police said the gathering was unauthorised, and therefore, the participants were detained.

Initially, the park gates were closed, and the police detained workers who were not permitted to join the gathering inside.

Later, as the workers and members of LTUC and UUI began to sit down near the gates, police personnel entered the premises and began detaining them. More than five police vehicles and a bus were brought in to transport the workers and union members to another location. The detainees chanted ‘Jai Bhim’ as the vehicles left.

One of the workers said she got hurt allegedly during the detention by the police, and was taken to a hospital in Mambalam for treatment.