Tourist guides threaten strike from May 5
Unhappy with their remuneration, the 84 tourist guides of the Hussainabad and Allied Trust have threatened to go on strike from May 5.
The guides are presently getting Rs 6,400 which was decided around 5 years back. Since then, there has been no revision in their salary. However, the guides say that the salaries of other staff like gardeners, muazzin (those who give Azaan), head guard and sweepers were revised last year.
Calling their remuneration a pittance and inadequate to deal with rising inflation, the guides are demanding at least ₹15,000 to lead a respectable life.
The guides say that they have submitted a number of memoranda to the authorities concerned but nothing has been done so far. The Imambaras and other nawabi era monuments fall under the control of the Hussainabad Trust and the district magistrate is its custodian. So it is he who has to decide on the hike. However, a new DM is set to take charge soon. But the guides are in no mood to relent on their strike call. If the strike takes place, tourists wanting to explore the major historical edifices in the city like Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Clock Tower, tomb of Nawab Sadaat Ali Khan and many others, would be left in the lurch.
OSD, Hussainabad Trust, Nasir Naqvi said, “Yes, the guides have demanded a hike in salaries as last time their salaries were revised in 2014. Since then they have been awaiting increment. I have forwarded their demands to the district administration. However, I have requested the guides to keep on working as their proposal is under consideration.”
The guides are trained by the state government to entertain tourists and tell them the history of the monuments, as well as interesting anecdotes .