More than 200 cooks working at different police stations in the national capital have not been paid their salaries for the past over 14 months.
More than 200 cooks working at different police stations in the national capital have not been paid their salaries for the past over 14 months.
The cooks have approached several Delhi police top officials, including Delhi police commissioner Alok Kumar Verma and former commissioner B.S. Bassi, and lodged complaints. But in vain. No one has paid heed to their problem.
According to available information, hiring of the cooks was outsourced and, after a tendering process, the contract was awarded to Bedi and Bedi, a Karol Bagh-based private firm.
The cooks were being paid around Rs 10, 000 by the firm. The tender expired on March 31, 2015, but the firm was reportedly asked by the police department to continue its service. The firm was promised that the contract will be renewed and all the dues will be cleared. The firm continued its service, but allegedly without paying salary to the cooks.
The firm, when contacted, claimed that the police department was not paying them anything, hence, they are unable to pay salary to the cooks.
When the cooks demanded their salary, the firm asked them to wait for some time, promising all dues will be cleared.
One of the cooks, however, alleged that the firm cheated on them. “The firm’s executives met us many times. They told us to keep working and they kept promising us, each time telling a different story. We have not been paid a single penny since March 2015,” alleged the cooks working at one of the police stations.
The cooks also alleged that they are not paid their provident fund. They said that they have taken loan from a private financier to run their homes and were paying interest. “We have met the owner of Bedi and Bedi. We have also met a few top Delhi police officials. They all promised us that we would be paid our dues. But nothing has been done so far. We have to repay our loans as well. If we are not given our dues, we are doomed,” a cook said.
Speaking with this newspaper, an executive of Bedi and Bedi said that a week ago they spoke to the concerned police department and came to know that the MHA had agreed to issue a new tender for cooks in the coming month. “The MHA has also sanctioned Rs 5.78 crore. Once this tender is awarded to us, we will pay all the dues of the cooks,” he said.
Amardeep Singh Bedi, the owner of the firm, said that he too was concerned about the issue and was trying his best to clear the arrears. “I can understand the problem being faced by the cooks. They will have to wait for two more weeks. The MHA has approved the money and we are confident that the contract will be renewed. The cooks will be paid all their dues,” said Mr Bedi.
Meanwhile, a top official said on the condition of anonymity said that he had a word with the executives of Bedi and Bedi. “The MHA has sanctioned the money. Every cook will get his dues,” the police officer said.
