Irked over non-payment of salaries and other dues, the peeved employees of all three MCDs which includes an array of doctors, nurses, teachers, beldars and sanitation workers begged on the streets as a mark of protest as the strike entered day seven. Major parts of the Capital witnessed severe traffic jam due to massive strike as protestors’ disrupted vehicular movement even as they dumped garbage at Delhi government ministers’ offices.
All the contractors of Delhi Municipal Contractor Association gathered in Karolbagh and marched toward Civic Centre and joined the agitating MCD employees and took part in the procession from the Civic Centre to Rajghat. The contractors have decided to go on a strike from February 10 if they don’t get their dues as much as Rs 1,700 crore.
“Non-release of salaries is not a new issue and this demand of MCD employees is not new. What is happening is a result of negligence and irresponsibility of Delhi govt, Centre and MCDs,” said Jai Kishan, Parton of Joint Front of MCD union.
The MCD employees protested at NH-24, Ghazipur, Civil Lines, Shadipur depot, Karol Bagh and Nizzamuddin area. Doctors, teachers, sanitation workers and beldars begged on the streets carrying begging bowls in their hands to protest against both the MCD and Delhi government. “We marched from Civic Centre to Turkman Gate to Rajghat begging with bowls in our hands.
Delhi government and MCD can reach a solution easily if they unify the Corporations and disburse the salaries,” said Rajender Mewati, General Secretary of United Front of MCD Employees Association.
Around 8,000 senior and resident doctors, 10,000 nurses as well as para medical staff of seven hospitals and hundreds of polyclinics have also come to streets. “We urge both the Delhi government and Central government to find a solution to end the strike.
“Thousands of people are suffering due to our strike which has been forced on us due to lack of any permanent solution to the issue of payment of salaries and other dues in time,” said Dr R R Gautam, president of Municipal Corporation Doctors’ Association.
“Delhi government is trying to play politics over this issue. The Commissioners wrote the letter to Delhi government officers but it is either Kejriwal or Sisodia who responds for everything with partial information. I invite an open debate with Delhi government in Constitution Club over issue of MCD funds,” said R P Singh.