DMC Sanitation Worker Strike Issue Raised in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: As the Delhi Municipal Corporation sanitation workers strike was discussed in Rajya Sabha, a group of workers have launched a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Wednesday.

Raising fears among people as the last strike of the union turned the streets of Delhi into a garbage dump.

The workers demanding that the Delhi government and the civic bodies fulfill their pending demands including payment of arrears.

" Sanitation workers will continue the relay fast in groups of five until our long-pending demands including payment of arrears, regularisation of contract workers and cashless health cards are met," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha( Sanitation worker union).

Shiv Sena MP Rajkumar Dhoot raising the issue sought to know the reasons behind the earlier strike and the steps taken by the government to deal with the situation.

Replying to Dhoot's question on the strike, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said that sanitation workers of South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations did not go on strike.

He said, however, the sanitation staff of East Delhi Municipal Corporation went on strike demanding fulfilment of their demands like payment of wages, arrears and implementation of assorted welfare measures.

"The matter has been taken up by East DMC with the Government of NCT of Delhi to improve its financial condition," he added.

Chaudhary also added that during the strike, 5,448.195 metric tons of garbage was lifted and dumped at sanitation and land-filling site in NCR with a view to keeping the East DMC area clean.

"We are yet to receive the Diwali bonus. Payments of arrears and medical reimbursement have also not been made for long. When we go to the municipal authorities they cite financial crisis and say that payments will be made after receiving funds from the Delhi government," Gehlot added.