Sanitation workers call off hungerstrike

New Delhi: Sanitation workers called off their hungerstrike as most of their demands were accepted by the BJP-ruled municipal corporation. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Saturday offered a glass of juice to the sanitation workers’ Union leaders who were on hungerstrike since March 20. 

Mr Tiwari told the sanitation workers that the civic body understands that their demands are genuine and they deserve it. However, there are financial compulsions before it. Yet, the corporation has risen above party politics and has taken the decision to meet the demands. But it would entail a big financial liability on the exchequer.

“This decision is being taken keeping in view its genuineness, the sanitation of the city, and the welfare of the sanitation staff,” Mr Tiwari added.

He also expressed hope that now the sanitation force would dedicate themselves to the cause of sanitation and remove all the garbage that has piled up in the city. He said to the workers that their efforts would bring real change and help in achieving the objectives of the Swachchh Bharat Mission.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) mayor Preety Agarwal claimed that most of the demands of the sanitation workers have been accepted in their favour after taking into consideration many factors and deliberations.

Ms Agarwal announced that the demand for regularisation of the daily-wage sanitation workers appointed till 2006 shall be met with as per availability of vacant posts with immediate effect as per policy.

“The demand of introducing mediclaim policy for regular sanitation workers on the analogy of SDMC has also been accepted by the corporation. Besides their salary, the sanitation workers will be paid '5,000 per month as part of payment of the pending arrear. Meanwhile, when the Delhi government releases funds, all their pending arrear can also be paid in lump sum,” Ms Agarwal added.

Meanwhile, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken also met the sanitation workers sitting on hungerstrike outside the Civic Centre seeking the fulfilment of their various demands. He assured them that Congress will spare no efforts to get them justice.

“The BJP leaders tried to fool the striking sanitation workers in a bid to end their hungerstrike without fulfilling their just demands, or even without giving any proper assurance of solving their demands, despite being in power in the MCDs,” said Mr Maken.

Former All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Jai Kishan and the leaders of the Congress party in the MCDs, Mukesh Goel and Abhishek Dutt, also met the striking sanitation workers along with Mr Maken