The Times of India 08.09.2010
Breeding checkers refuse to budge
NEW DELHI: MCD’s domestic breeding checkers continued their strike on Tuesday. This has paralysed MCD’s drive to check mosquito breeding. While DBCs are adamant that they want regularization of service, MCD officials say if they don’t return to work within 24 hours, they will all be sacked.
DBCs have been demanding regularization of service, but MCD officials say they don’t have funds for it. “What they are asking for is impossible to do. We can’t regularize them as we don’t have funds. Due to their strike, our drive for checking breeding has suffered badly in the last two days. If they don’t return to work by tomorrow morning, we will sack them,” warned Dr V K Monga, chairman, health committee, MCD.
But DBCs are persistent in their demands. “We are paid just Rs 4,100, which is less than the minimum wage approved by the Delhi government. Moreover, we don’t have any medical benefits. If they want to sack us, they can go ahead and do it. We are not asking them to immediately regularize us. We just want a written assurance that it will happen after the Games. DBCs are an integral part of the MCD’s health department as every year there is threat of dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases. They can’t ignore us,” said Ashok Chaudhary, secretary, Anti-Malaria Karamchari Sangh, who has the support of nearly 3,200 DBCs .
Following the strike, Delhi health minister Kiran Walia called a meeting of MCD and Delhi government officials. She has asked MCD to hire more DBCs so that breeding can be reduced in the city, specially near the Games venues. “We will be hiring additional DBCs for the Games. We have also been asked to strengthen our mosquito repellent spraying teams,” said Dr Monga.
Meanwhile, 68 new dengue cases were reported on Tuesday and with this, the toll has risen to 1,438.
