Demands met, safai karamcharis call off protests

Heeding to their demand, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation today agreed in-principle to regularise all 'safai karamcharis' who were hired till 1998.
A meeting of the Standing Committee took the decision following which the workers' union called off their nine-day-long indefinite strike.
"We want that their demands, including the one about making workers permanent, be met. All of us had promised them that this would be done. Also, their arrears should be paid before Holi," Chairman of Standing Committee, Mehak Singh said.
"We should go and talk to these agitating workers. Their demands are valid and should be met before Holi," councillor Mahendra Ahuja added.

The union has been demanding that all safai karamcharis hired till 1998 be made permanent. Besides, they also want that the workers be provided a medical card and their arrears be paid as soon as possible.
Agreeing to the demands, Commissioner S S Yadav explained that as of now 5,000 posts had been sanctioned in which workers hired during 1996-97 will be accommodated first on the basis of seniority.

"If the workers till 1998 are included, the number will go up from 5,000 to 7,500. However, the financial condition of the corporation cannot take this increased burden of paying the increased salary and arrears at one go. We will make them permanent and then create more posts in the coming months for them," Yadav said.

Earlier in the day, there were dramatic scenes outside the EDMC office when a worker climbed on the roof of Udyog Bhavan in Patparganj Industrial Area and threatened to jump if the workers' demands are not met.
Policemen, who managed bring him down, later barricaded the building to prevent another such episode.