The strike by around 140 casual workers with the Doordarshan reached its fifth day on Monday. The workers who belong to civil, video and production units among others have been seeking better pay and regularization.

"All of us who are on strike have been working for at least eight to ten years. There have been people who are working for the past 23 years as well. We are on strike because they have not agreed to our demand for improving our pay and regularization. We get around Rs 15,800 per month from which even TDS is cut. We work throughout the month but are paid only for seven days," said Santoshi Pawar, one of the workers who are on strike.

The workers sat outside the Doordarshan office in Worli and were also addressed by Anjali Damania, whose union Niswarth Kamgar Sangathna they are part of. "They do no get any medical or maternity benefits. The salary is low.

When we raised the issue, the CEO said that they will do something about it but have not done anything so far," said Damania, former AAP leader.

She added, "They are given pay as per seven assignments. These are not for seven days. They work almost over 26 days of the month." When DNA tried to contact ADGP of Doordarshan, he could not be reached.