Contractual employees of DCW stage protest

Protesting  over non-payment of salary for three months, the contractual employees of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday held a silent protest outside the DCW office in the evening.

“The workers who struggled for women in the city are forced to hit the roads for their salaries. We are being forced to shut down DCW,” said Swati Maliwal. “Over 90 per cent of the employees earn less than RS 25,000. They have worked extremely hard to build an effective DCW. It is really painful to see its work being sabotaged in this manner by the present member secretary. I urge the LG to intervene and ensure the salaries of DCW,” she added. 

Later, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted accusing Prime Minister Narender Modi of stopping the earnings of the citizens and stopping the salaries of the contractual workers.

The messages in the banners and posters highlighted how the employees are facing difficulties due to the nonpayment of salaries for three months topped with demonetisation. Most of the contractual workers stated that they were dedicated towards their works and irrespective of the hardships faced by them, they will not leave their job. 

After the silent protest, the DCW Chief Swati Mailwal presented a memorandum to the Member Secretary Alka Dewan where she requested the Member Secretary to release the salaries of the contractual employees.  Maliwal mentioned that the major functioning in the 181 toll free helpline number, rape crisis cell, mahila panchayat were done by the contractual employees. 

She mentioned that the 20 permanent employees involved with DCW were mainly involved in administrative work.  In the memorandum, Maliwal highlighted the fact that the present contractual workers of DCW comprised of orphans from Nari Niketan, acid attack survivors, dowry harassment survivors and women of extremely vulnerable backgrounds.