For the past 20 days a group of about 50 protesters, close relatives of deceased Delhi Development Authority (DDA) employees, are sitting on a dharna outside the authority's headquarters Vikas Sadan, demanding jobs on compassionate grounds.
DDA, like many government organisations, has a policy of providing employment to close relatives of their employees who die prematurely.
There is, however, a waiting list of such candidates and the wait can stretch on for years.
‘Pick-and-choose policy’
“DDA is following a pick-and-choose policy of providing jobs on compassionate grounds. While on one hand jobs are being given to those who are quite well off and in sound financial condition, many who are in dire straits are waiting endlessly for employment,” said Neeraj Nirwal, one of the applicants who has been spearheading the protest.
“The DDA had brought in a policy of one-time relaxation, which could have provided employment to the more than 500 people on the waiting list, but it has suddenly gone back on this. There are many who have been waiting since 1990 for a job,” he said.
“Many people who are in the waiting list are getting rejection letters based on flimsy excuses such as, the applicant is over 18 years of age or has a small house etc. If someone gets older than 18 years while waiting for a job, is it his or her fault and can't someone with a small house still need employment?” Mr. Nirwal said.
“More than 250 applicants are part of our indefinite dharna and it will go on till DDA provides employment to the needy,” he said.
‘Jobs only for the needy’
“Employment on compassionate grounds is given following set procedures and rules and regulations, there is no question of a pick and choose policy,” said a senior DDA official who didn't wish to be named.
“A survey is carried out by our welfare inspectors who make several visits to the house of the applicants to find out their actual living conditions and talking to neighbours for their findings,” he said.
“In case it is found out that the family of the deceased has rental or other sources of income, has well educated children who can easily find employment, have well furnished houses or vehicles, such applications are rejected. Only in such cases employment is provided where we can establish that the family has no other source of income or employment,” he said.
“Employment is provided only to the needy and not those who already have means of income but still want a government job,” said the DDA official.
Authorities say they will first give jobs to those who have no other source of income
