EDMC workers protest near Kejriwal's residence over non-payment of salary
What's the story
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) sanitation workers, who are on strike for the last three weeks, today staged a protest near the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to press for their demands, civic body officials said.
The employees are on strike since September 12 demanding regular payment of salaries and regularization of workers.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal alleged, "BJP has misled them."
Here's more.
Protest
I'm going to talk to workers, present facts: Kejriwal
"Sanitation workers are protesting outside my residence. BJP has misled them. I'm going to talk to them and present facts. I'm really worried about the sanitation arrangements... They've to protest every two months to get their salaries," Kejriwal tweeted.
Confirming the development, an official said, "There has (however) been no instance of violence."
EDMC has around 16,000 workers, half of whom are permanent employees.
Twitter Post
Arvind Kejriwal seems worried about EDMC workers
दिल्ली की सफ़ाई व्यवस्था को लेकर मैं बेहद चिंतित हूँ। भाजपा की केंद्र और MCD की सरकारों ने दिल्ली की सफ़ाई व्यवस्था को पूरी तरह अस्त व्यस्त कर दिया है
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 4, 2018
मैं अपने सफ़ाई कर्मचारियों को लेकर भी बेहद चिंतित हूँ। हर दो महीनों में इनको अपनी तनख़्वाह लेने के लिए हड़ताल करनी पड़ती है https://t.co/8OhN8NqsMf
Releasing funds
Delhi government to release Rs. 500 crore for civic bodies
Meanwhile, a senior official said a meeting was underway between the East Delhi Mayor and a sanitation union leader to resolve the issue.
Yesterday the Delhi government told SC that it would release Rs. 500cr within two days to civic bodies, which will help resolve the crisis that has arisen due to the ongoing strike by sanitation workers of the civic body.
Employment
EDMC to start giving permanent employment to contractual workers
The BJP-led EDMC on September 26 had decided to begin the process for permanent employment of contractual sanitation workers who were recruited after March 31, 1998.
The President of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, Sanjay Gahlot, however, had said that since there was no assurance of this resolution reaching its desired end from the authorities' side, they would continue their agitation in East Delhi.