With tons of garbage dotting the streets all over again, the national Capital is witnessing fresh round of garbage pile-ups. Carrying on the protest due to non-payment of their salaries, arrears and other dues; the Municipal Corporation workers didn’t leave any ward untouched with garbage dumps.
The protesters also burnt Delhi CM’s effigy at EDMC’s headquarters, dumped garbage at deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s office and carried out massive protests outside MCD headquarters as a mark of their protest.
Areas like Vinod Nagar, Patparganj, Shahdara, Narela, Geeta Colony, Okhla and Laxmi Nagar were stinking as only garbage piles could be seen on the roads.
Moreover, places like Jantar Mantar, MCD’s headquarters at the Civic Centre and all zonal offices faced similar situations. “It is difficult to even pass by these roads. The roads are stinking so bad that we fear we might catch some infection due to the presence of garbage,” said Ramesh Nautiyal, a resident of East Vinod Nagar.
Scores of Municipal sanitation workers threw garbage piles outside Deputy CM’s camp office in Patparganj demanding “immediate” release of funds for their salaries. They also threatened to suspend work for an “indefinite” period if their demands are not met.
“It has been two-three months that the workers have not received their salaries. Despite repeated requests, our demands have gone unheard. Hence, we have staged a protest here. We will call off work for an indefinite period if our demands are not met,” Sanjay Gehlot, president of Delhi Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukta Morcha said.
Union leaders claimed that employees from all the three agencies have taken part in the strike. Besides salaries, the employees are seeking payment of arrears, regularisation of contract-based employees and unification of the three Corporations. Workers attached to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) had gone on a strike making similar demands in October last year. But the strike was called off in the wake of a High Court order.
“The agencies must pay heed to our demands of timely payment of due salaries in the first week of every month, release of arrears for those whose services were regularised in 2003 and 2004, regularisation of contractual workers, issuance of medical cards and the payment of their child education allowance. While the demands have not been complied with, the sanitation workers are battling a grave financial crisis,” said Rajendra Mewati, general secretary of United Front.