KATHMANDU: Agitating local body staffers today staged a sit-in in front of Singha Durbar for two hours to pressurise the government to address their demands. They have also obstructed the collection of garbage that piled up on the streets in the capital since Sunday. The sit-in began at 11:30 am in front of Singha Durbar — nation’s administrative capital — and concluded at 1.30 pm. The Local Body Employees’ Union has padlocked all the local bodies in the country since December 15, issuing forth a charter of demands to the govermnent, which include adequate remuneration and other facilities commensurate with the civil servants and promotion of temporary staff. The charter of demands also include career development and trade union rights for the employees. Hari Kumar Shrestha, president of the stirring Local Body Employees’ Union said the shut out of local bodies would continue until their demands are met. “Our protest, including the obstruction of garbage collection will continue till the government address our demands,” he added. There are about 37,000 staffers in 75 district development committees, 58 municipalities and 3,915 village development committees across the country. The stirring union has said they would immediately call off their strike but said the government should appove the amendment of the Local Self Governance Regulation 2009 as a precondition.