Thousands of employees of the municipal corporations of Delhi went on strike on Wednesday over late payment of salaries, affecting everything from primary education to sanitation services.
Workers from sanitation, health, engineering and education departments protested against not being paid their salaries by the North and East Delhi corporations. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has not been affected by the financial crisis seen in the other two civic bodies, but some of its workers did join the protest in solidarity.
The strike hit garbage removal, OPD services in hospitals, teaching in schools and even the headquarters of the civic bodies, though officials termed the impact of the strike “partial”. Some employee unions launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday, while others planned a three-day agitation. The North and East civic bodies owe employees salaries for three months, and have been late on payments for a year now.
Wworkers gathered at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to hold a dharna. Rajendra Mewati, General Secretary of the United Front of MCD Unions, said the workers would protest for the next two days. “We have planned a three-day strike for now, and if by the end of the week there is no progress, we will call for an indefinite strike,” said Mr. Mewati, whose organisation represents 20 unions.
Another group of workers held a protest outside CM Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.
“With our protest today, we have launched an indefinite strike till our dues are cleared,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.
Meanwhile, the effects of the strike were limited at the hospitals as doctors and nurses chose to support the agitation without participating. “Doctor, resident doctors and nurses will support the strike, but we chose not to stop work as we don’t want to inconvenience the patients. However, if there is no change in a week or two, we will also be forced to strike,” said Dr. R.R. Gautam, president of the Municipal Corporation Doctors’ Association.
Despite this, the OPDs were shut from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. as class-IV employees, including ward boys and cleaners, joined the strike.
Senior leader in the NDMC, Mohan Bhardwaj, said the strike had not affected work much, but if it goes on services will be hit. “We have paid sanitation workers for December, and the rest of class-IV employees will be paid soon. But, we haven’t got our funds from the government so there isn’t much else we can do. For a year now, we have not been able to do any development work,” said Mr. Bhardwaj, who is the chairperson of the Standing Committee.
