Thousands of sanitation workers were prevented from taking their protest to Parliament by the Delhi Police as they resorted to lathicharge during a protest held by them at Jantar Mantar on Monday. The safai karamcharis had assembled in large number at the protest site, demanding permanent jobs and increase in salary.
According to reports, around 25,000 workers from the three corporations, including women gathered at Jantar Mantar to voice their protest against non-fulfilment of demands being made by them for the past four years. They raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party government as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party which rules the three corporations. After their leaders had addressed the gathering, they decided to march towards the Parliament. However, they were stopped by cops deployed at the spot who used force to stop them from breaking the security barricades placed there.
Meanwhile, the strike by workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation entered 27th day on Monday, with no breakthrough in sight. This is also the longest strike by them in the past four years since the employees, most of whom are contractual, started pressing for their demands. The list includes making temporary workers permanent, increase in pay along with arrears as per Sixth Pay Commission, proper medical assistance, pension to retired employees and timely disbursal of salaries. Sanjay Gehlot, president, MCD Swachhta Karamchari Union said, "The government has given us false assurances till now. We will not call off the strike till all our demands are met. The excuse of no funds available cannot go for long." This is their ninth strike since 2015.
Parts of east Delhi, particularly Shahdara, Laxmi Nagar, Vinod Nagar have becoming living examples of squalor with dirty streets making it difficult for residents to live in the vicinity. The areas have not been cleaned for almost a month now, garbage is strewn all over the place- rotting, becoming a breeding ground of mosquitoes and flies. Residents complain that it has become an arduous task to breathe even as the stench from the rubbish is now entering their homes.