Demanding cashless health cards and regularisation of contract-based workers, scores of sanitation workers of municipal corporations in Delhi, who are also affiliated to over two dozen workers’ unions, on Thursday staged a protest against the Delhi government.
The protesters met a senior government official who assured them that their demands would be looked into. “We wanted to meet chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, but he was not in his office. We met the chief secretary of the government who promised to look into our demands,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.
“We will step up our protests and strike as no one is interested in solving our problems. We will continue our strike till we receive our dues, including arrears in our bank accounts,” he said.
The sanitation workers strike, which started on October 23, has led to accumulation of garbage in the three municipal areas. East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) is the worst hit by the strike by different workers’ union.
“The government as well as the ruling political parties are only misguiding and cheating us without doing anything conclusive to solve our problems,” Mr Gehlot charged.
Several other sanitation workers unions have planned protests and demonstrations even as the strike has completed two weeks. “Joint front of the MCD unions will stage a demonstration at the lieutenant-governor’s residence tomorrow (Friday) morning, demanding immediate action to meet our demands,” said front president Santlal Chawaria.
Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh president Rajender Mewati said, “The sanitation workers will gherao the three mayors at their residences on November 9 asking them to refrain from issuing mere statements and work towards the fulfilling of their demands.” The AAP government and three BJP ruled MCDs are engaged in claims and counter claims over transfer of funds which remain unsettled despite two rounds of meetings between the mayors and deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
