“Kadam Kadam Par Ladenge”: Housekeeping workers’ strike continues through heavy rains

On the morning of Sunday, 31st August 2025, the housekeeping staff entered their fourth day of protest. Despite a heavy downpour and a new notice sent by Bluspring, threatening workers with disciplinary action, they remained outside Gate No.1, holding firm to their three demands. 

At around 2 p.m., protesting workers planted a tree, calling it ekta vriksh (tree of unity) just outside the gate, followed by a speech and sloganeering. “We planted this tree because we have protested every day for the last four days. In the coming times, we want others to see our unity,” says a worker while addressing the protesting body.

Workers remained motivated despite no communication from Ashoka’s administration. Janice*, a housekeeping worker, says, “Until they listen to our demands, we will be here, be it 4, 5, or 10 days.”

Image of Ekta Vriksh/Tree of Unity

Translation: Tree of Unity, planted by housekeeping staff on 31st August 2025.

At 5:15 p.m., several workers received a WhatsApp message from Aditee Jaiswal, HR regional manager at Quess Corp, containing a letter titled “Response to your reply to show cause notice issued on August 28, 2025.” The letter stated that their earlier replies were “unsatisfactory,” and not “personal” and instructed them to submit signed written responses in person immediately, explaining the reason for their absence. 

Screenshot of Workers’ Response to Bluspring’s Show Cause Notice.

Screenshot of Bluspring’s Notice Sent to Workers Via WhatsApp.

The letter also states that upon its receiving, workers are expected to resume their work and that failure to do so would result in "disciplinary action” against them

When asked, most workers said they “did not understand” why the notice was sent and said that they would ignore the instructions and continue their protest.

In an interview with The Edict, Anay*, a housekeeping worker employed by facilities management company Sodexo, at Ashoka’s neighbouring O.P. Jindal Global University, shared details of a strike held on 28th July with over 200 housekeeping and maintenance workers there. The protest was held over issues similar to those faced by Ashoka workers, such as lack of pay raises, arbitrary firings, and disrespect from management, resulting in a ₹1,500 monthly salary increase on top of their existing ₹10,000–₹11,000 wages.

Ten workers entered negotiations with their contractor and the Jindal administration, reaching a favourable outcome in less than half a day. According to Anay*, in addition to the ₹1,500 monthly raise, workers were promised a yearly increment of ₹1,000 and a ₹2,000 increase every five years. He added that since the strike, supervisors have treated workers with greater respect, have begun rehiring some of those who were wrongly fired and have stopped overworking them.

The protestors ended the day setting up a make-shift tent with wooden scaffolding and a sheet of yellow polyester to shield themselves from the rain as they slept, still waiting for a response from the Ashoka administration.

*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of the sources.

(Edited by Giya Sood and Madiha Tariq)

(Fact checked by Madiha Tariq)