Lucknow: Driven by the urgency to vote and secure their place on electoral rolls, thousands of migrant sanitation workers are leaving Uttar Pradesh’s cities for Assam ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, triggering fears of garbage piling up and sanitation services breaking down.
For these workers, the indelible ink on the finger is more than a mark of participation. It is proof of identity. The fear that skipping the vote could lead to their names being struck off voter lists has set off a wave of departures, even at the cost of daily wages.
Across Lucknow and other urban centres, Resident Welfare Associations have begun alerting residents about possible disruption in garbage collection as sweepers, rag pickers and domestic workers leave in large numbers.
In Bal Vihar Colony, the concern is already palpable. “If garbage is not lifted for even two days, it becomes extremely difficult to live with. The stench, stray animals and health risks make the situation intolerable,” said Indu Prakash Sharma, an RWA representative. “We are trying to manage, but replacements are hard to find.”
Officials in municipal bodies admit the sudden shortage has exposed the dependence on migrant labour. “A substantial portion of the sanitation workforce comes from Assam. When they leave simultaneously, there is an immediate shortfall. We are deploying additional staff, but normal services are hard to maintain,” a senior official said.
For workers like Mohammed Saadiq Ali, the choice is clear. “We survive on daily earnings, but this time voting is more important. We want that ink on our finger. It tells us our name is still there,” he said.
Ali, a native of Barpeta district in Assam, said there is mounting pressure from families to return home. “People are calling us and saying come back at any cost. There is fear that if we do not vote, our names may be deleted,” he said.
The return journey is expensive and uncertain, with many struggling to find confirmed tickets. Yet, workers are willing to bear the cost. “We will spend whatever it takes. This is about our identity,” he said.
Hasan Sheikh, who works in Noida, said he and his wife debated staying back but ultimately decided to leave. “Work can continue later, but if our name is removed from the list, we lose everything. Voting is proof that we belong,” he said.
Residents are already feeling the impact. “Our domestic help has gone to vote. We are trying to adjust for a few days,” said Mini Shah, a Noida resident.
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The trend is being seen across multiple cities including Lucknow, Kanpur and Gorakhpur, where civic services rely heavily on migrant workers.
Urban experts say the situation highlights a structural vulnerability in city management. “Sanitation systems in many cities depend on informal migrant labour. When they move out in large numbers, the impact is immediate and visible,” said civic analyst Dr Manish Shukla.
As garbage collection slows and concern grows over hygiene, the workers remain resolute in their decision.
“Losing a few days’ income is difficult,” Ali said. “But losing our identity is something we cannot risk.”
