Hindustan Times 08.09.2010
MCD workers’ stir enters third dayOfficials claim that they do not have adequate funds to regularise the DBCs. On the other hand, the striking workers threatened to continue the stir till their demands are met. “We have been working on contract for the past 15 years and want a permanent job now,” said Ashok Chaudhary, president of Anti-Malaria Karamchari Sangh. He added: “Ours is a technical job. Even if the MCD hires new people, it will have to train those workers.
We will approach the Lt. Governor if the MCD sacks us.” Although the civic agency had earlier threatened that those not returning to work will face termination of services, it has given the DBCs one last chance to return to work.
Citing helplessness over regularisation of the striking workers, the officials admitted that the work of a DBC is quite technical in nature and it might take at least a week’s time to recruit new ones.
“We have given them one more chance to come back to work. We are sure they will pay heed to our advice,” said V.K Monga, Chairman, Public Health Committee of the MCD. The DBCs, who undertake door-to-door surveys to check mosquito breeding, have been demanding regularisation of jobs for long now. In 2008, they had observed a 47-day strike with the same demand.
