Municipal sanitation workers on relay hunger strike

A group of municipal corporation sanitation workers has launched a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here, demanding that the Delhi government and the civic bodies fulfil their pending demands including payment of arrears.
"The relay hunger strike began on December 1. Sanitation workers will continue the relay fast in groups of five at Jantar Mantar 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.
"It's unfortunate that the sanitation workers are yet to receive their Diwali bonus. Payment 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.
Meanwhile, the issue of sanitation workers strike was today raised in Rajya Sabha by Rajkumar Dhoot.
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.
The EDMC facing financial crisis has been demanding release of pending funds from the Delhi government, along with two other municipal corporations in the capital.
Meetings regarding pending funds were held between Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Mayors and Commissioners of three municipal corporations last month but no solution has been found yet, said a senior municipal corporation official.