Only salaries of safai karmacharis have been given, say protestors

While the Corporations are claiming that they have disbursed salaries till the months of December and January, the employees’ union have said that they will not end their on-going strike as only safai karamcharis have received salaries while all other departments are still awaiting it. 

“The Corporations have been misleading the agitating employees that they have disbursed salaries upto January but the reality is only sanitation staff have received salaries of December month while others have got other departments’ staff are still waiting. Disbursement of January’s salary is totally false,” said Rajesh Mishra, president of United Front of MCD staff.

The unions further maintained that despite an announcement of a loan of Rs 551 crore for salary payment, unions will continue their strike as they want permanent solution of the crisis. The union leaders maintained that one time loan will not respite to ailing agencies as they are in huge burden. 

“The government’s package is not a permanent solution of our problem as it will not help cash-strapped bodies more. To avoid such crisis in future, we want proper solution,” said Rajendra Mewati, president of Delhi Pradesh Saiaf Majdoor Congress.

On Friday, 10th day of the strike, massive protests witnessed with garbage dumping and halting of traffic across the city. 

The employees protested at NH-24, Ghazipur, Civil Lines, Shadipur depot, Karol Bagh and Nizzamuddin area. Most parts of East Delhi has been the worst hit as protesters not just dumped garbage on roads but also blocked traffic. 

Protests were also witnessed outside offices of the three Municipal Corporations, including zonal offices. Early morning, hundreds of sanitation workers staged protest various locations and burnt effigies of senior leaders including CM Arvind Kejriwal, EDMC Mayor Harsh Malhotra. Roads of Laxminagar, Pandav Nagar, Geeta Colony, Shahdra, Durgapuri,etc also witnessed dumping/throwing of garbage during morning hours.

The agitating safaikarmis agang targeted the house of Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra in Yamuna Vihar. The protesters gathered in front of the house in mass and shouted slogans against him before littering garbage. 

“As we have decided to intensify our stir, we have been gathering at residences of prominent leaders and dumping are garbage. As the agencies have failed to pay salaries and other dues, we have no option than following this way. We will keep agitating till our due salaries were not released,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Majdoor Vikas Sanyukta Morcha.