Delhi CM must fulfil the demands of MCD workers on protest: AAP

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor and the Leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House, Ankush Narang, on Saturday said that he has written a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging her to accept the demands of frontline workers who have been on an indefinite protest since September 29.

“I have urged the Chief Minister to fulfil the employees’ demands, as they face wage discrimination,” said Mr. Narang.

Hundreds of domestic breeding checkers (DBC) and multitasking services (MTS) workers, hired on contract for anti-mosquito and other drives, are pressing for regularisation, equal pay, medical and earned leave, and compensatory jobs for family members of deceased employees.

According to Mr. Narang, among DBC workers, 212 individuals in six specific zones receive ₹27,500 per month because of a higher grade pay, while more than 5,000 DBC workers in the remaining zones are paid ₹16,500 per month for performing the same duties. He emphasised that the central demand from these workers is equal pay for equal work, describing it as “fully justified”.

Mr. Narang said a delegation of DBC workers tried to meet the CM on October 8 but was “denied audience even after waiting three hours”.

Attacking the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mr. Narang said neither Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh nor MCD Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma has taken concrete steps to resolve the issue.

“The financial impact of fulfilling these demands would be only ₹50 to 60 crore a year, which is not a big burden for the government as the BJP is in power in Delhi and the Centre, so there should be no shortage of funds,” he said.