Delhi CM asks Jain to direct MCDs to regularise service of sanitation workers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today asked Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain to direct the BJP-led municipal corporations in the national capital to regularise the service of all contractual sanitation workers.

Kejriwal also took a dig at the Centre's flagship programme - Swachh Bharat Mission, claiming, "It has become an event management where four to five people pose with broom in their hands."

Participating in a discussion in the Delhi Assembly on the hardships being faced by sanitation workers due to non-regularisation of their services, he alleged, "Not a single street in the country has been cleaned under Swachh Bharat Mission. Bharat cannot be clean if sanitation workers are not given respect."

Later, the House passed a resolution, moved by AAP MLA Rakhi Birla, with a voice vote, directing all the three BJP-led civic bodies to regularise contractual sanitation workers.

Kejriwal said, "I direct the UD Minister to instruct the director of local bodies to ask MCDs to regularise the service of sanitation workers."

Hitting out at the BJP, the chief minister said, "The character of the BJP is anti-Dalit... the party's core value is that they don't want permanent staff. Look at BJP-ruled Gujarat and Haryana where all workers are on contractual basis."

In a reference to five sanitation workers who are currently on hunger strike demanding regularisation of their service, Kejriwal said, "I request you to break your fast. The Assembly and the chief minister is with you."

He said that if the service matter would come under ambit of the Delhi government, it would make the service of contractual sanitation workers permanent.

"If Delhi government gets services today, we will show you (BJP) how to regularise the service of workers," Kejriwal said, adding that services department, which deals with the appointment of officers, is under L-G Anil Baijal.

Reacting to this, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said, "I request the chief minister to convene a meeting with all MLAs, the leader of opposition, officers and municipal corporations to find out a solution on how to make the service of contractual workers permanent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)