Salary-deprived teachers force adjournment of House proceedings

On-strike teachers barged into the House proceedings of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday demanding immediate release of their salaries and other dues. The errant teachers not only disrupted the proceedings but forced it to be adjourned which was the first ever incident in the history of MCD. The ruckus, created by the Corporation staff, also led to blame games as the ruling BJP held Opposition party (Congress) responsible while the latter blamed the BJP. Notably, the Corporation employees like sanitation workers, health employees, education department staff and others have not received their salaries for the past three months following which they have announced the start of an indefinite strike.

There were nearly two hundred teachers gathered at MCD’s headquarters and they forcefully entered the fourth floor where the House proceedings were scheduled from 2 pm. The protesters defying prohibitory orders and restrictions came in the Well of the House. Amid the presence of top brass of the civic agency, they shouted slogans against the Corporation members and staff. They not only created pandemonium but threatened to stall proceedings in the coming days also. “We are almost at a dying state as we have not received salaries since the last three months. While meeting with Commissioner, Mayor, Standing Committee Chairman, etc we have been advised to knock at the doors of the Delhi government but the fact is that we are MCD staff,” said a protesting teacher.

The teachers claimed that if North MCD fails to take immediate step in this matter they will intensify their protest from the coming week. “The agency has stopped salaries of staff of all departments and has failed to provide assurance regarding payment. We have decided to organise a massive stir and if required we will sit on hunger strike. During our scheduled protest we have planned to gherao Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) house, the CM’s residence and the Mayors’ houses. Staff of the other Corporations will also join in on the protest,” said another teacher.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has asked the Central Government and Delhi government to intervene in the financial conditions of North agency. Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel wrote letters to the Prime Minister, Home Minster, LG, Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister to express concern over the financial condition of the cash-strapped agency. “The agency is incurring loss day by day while no step in being initiated. The top agencies must rescue the ailing body,” said Goel.