The city stinks when its sanitation staff take to the war path. Garbage bins overflow as 'pourakarmikas' have gone on strike. As if staying away from work is not troublesome enough, a mischief-minded section of striking workers is reportedly resorting to nasty tactics - littering streets and chocking sewage lines with solid waste. If their idea is to draw media and the public attention the sanitation staff on strike can be said to have accomplished it in ample measure. But then they can't expect to endear themselves with the people or mobilise sympathy for their cause. Incidentally, does anyone know, or care for, the demands for which they are on strike ?

Anyway, if the stir and the stink persists for a few more days, the city residents would be constrainted to think in terms of alternative means of waste disposal. It is time neighbourhood residents associations and self-help groups took steps to put in place a waste management system of their own. They could approach MGP (ph -.2515150) gor guidance, consult other NGOs such as 'Saahas' for expertise in this regard. (see our earlier post 'Waste is Wealth' in GLUBSHUP).