The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the BJP government for turning a blind eye to the plight of MCD’s DBC workers. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House, Ankush Narang, said instead of mocking the Arvind Kejriwal government’s campaigns that once kept the city safe, the BJP should give these frontline workers equal pay, medical leave and job security. He warned that if their demands are ignored and they strike from 29 September, Delhi’s health crisis will spiral out of control.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, MCD House LoP Ankush Narang said that the outbreak of malaria, chikungunya, and dengue in Delhi is continuously increasing. “On 22 September, the latest report of 13–20 September was released by BJP’s MCD. In this report, once again, 36 new cases of malaria have come to light. So far, there have been 333 cases of malaria in Delhi. This year, malaria has broken the record of the last five years,” he said.
“Similarly, this week six new cases of chikungunya have been reported. In 2025, under the BJP government, there have already been 52 cases of chikungunya, which is the highest in the past five years. Meanwhile, dengue cases are also rising rapidly, but the BJP has no concrete action plan to prevent any of these diseases,” said Ankush Narang.
He reminded that when Arvind Kejriwal was the Chief Minister of Delhi, he used to run the “10 weeks, 10 Sundays, 10 am, 10 minutes” campaign. “This campaign made the people of Delhi aware. Just as Arvind Kejriwal checked the collected water in his house, the people too checked theirs. People knew how to fight malaria, chikungunya, and dengue.
Ankush Narang added, “But the BJP mocked this successful campaign of the Arvind Kejriwal government, and even today, they only continue to mock it. They do not have a single campaign to stop these diseases. Neither the Delhi government nor the BJP’s mayor has started any awareness campaign. That is why malaria, chikungunya, and dengue are spreading rapidly in Delhi.”
He added that during the AAP government, nearly 5,000 DBC (Domestic Breeding Checker) workers were made MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff). This was their long-standing demand, which we fulfilled. At present, Delhi has around 5,000 MTS and CFW (Community Field Worker) employees. These employees too are now going on strike for their demands.
Ankush Narang said, “I have received letters from City SP Zone Chairman Vikas Tang, West Zone Chairperson Nirmala Kumari, Karol Bagh Zone Chairman Puneet Rai, and Rohini Zone Chairman Amrit Jain. Along with all these letters, I have prepared an attached note. The DBC employees have met these chairpersons and said that they are fighting a big battle against malaria, chikungunya, and dengue, and they have three basic demands from the BJP’s MCD government.”
He explained that the DBC employees have said they are being paid salaries under six different scales. “They are demanding that everyone be given equal salary. This is a completely legitimate demand. These employees should also get medical leave. If someone is working amidst these diseases, they too can contract the illness. If they are not given medical leave even after that, how will they manage their lives? Even after working for 25 to 30 years in the MCD, medical leave is not being given.”
He further said, “The Aam Aadmi Party also supports their demand for jobs on compassionate grounds. If something happens to a family member, then another member of the family should get a job. The AAP has prepared a letter regarding these demands and we are sending this letter to Mayor Raja Iqbal, the chairpersons, and the commissioner. AAP does not want that when malaria, chikungunya, and dengue are spreading rapidly in Delhi, these DBC employees should go on indefinite strike on 29 September.”
“These demands are very genuine and basic. Today the BJP has a four-engine government, yet it is unable to fulfil these demands. When these employees went to the officials, they were told that if everyone is given equal salary, there will be an additional expenditure of Rs 5 crore. What problem does BJP’s MCD have in arranging Rs 5 crore a month and Rs 60 crore annually for these employees? While in Delhi, they have a four-engine government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Mayor Raja Iqbal, and the Standing Committee Chairman all on their side,” added the MCD LoP.
He further added, “These are the same BJP people who used to sit outside Arvind Kejriwal’s house demanding Rs 13,000 crore for the MCD. Today, their own government is at the Centre, in Delhi, and in the MCD. BJP should answer whether it cannot arrange Rs 60 crore annually for these employees who protect people from malaria, chikungunya, and dengue? BJP must fulfil all their demands. This concerns not just 5,000 employees but also 5,000 families.”
“I hope the mayor, commissioner, and officials will immediately accept these demands of the employees as well as those of the AAP. Also, they must stop the employees from going on strike on 29 September, so that the people of Delhi remain safe. Because if they go on strike and BJP remains stubborn, then it is the people of Delhi who will have to suffer the consequences,” he said.
Meanwhile, City SP Zone Chairman Vikas Tang said, “BJP’s MCD is discriminating against the DBC (Domestic Breeding Checker) and CFW (Community Field Worker) employees of the public health department. These employees too are going on strike from 29 September. These are the very people who risk their lives to protect the people of Delhi. Whether it is fogging, testing for malaria mosquitoes, or prevention of chikungunya mosquitoes, these employees face every danger.”
Vikas Tang added, “Employees from the City SP Zone came to me with their problems. All the councillors of our zone unanimously said that these employees should get at least the minimum wage. The AAP supports this demand. I have written a letter to Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang so that the problems of these employees can be resolved and they do not go on strike.”
He further added, “The coming time is Diwali and the festive season. These employees are the ones who fight to protect the people of Delhi from diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. It is necessary to protect their interests. AAP will surely take their concerns to the MCD officials.”
Similarly, West Zone Chairperson Nirmala Kumari said, “At a time when malaria, dengue, and chikungunya cases are continuously rising in Delhi, our DBC and MTS employees are talking about going on strike. Employees from the West Zone came to me and said that they are facing severe discrimination. On this matter, AAP wants to tell the MCD officials that DBC employees take huge risks while working. If, during this, they contract dengue or malaria, then what will happen? Mosquitoes can bite them too, and they too can fall sick. In such a case, they must have the right to medical leave.”
“Medical leave is the right of these employees. If ordinary citizens can take leave when they fall ill and get treatment, then these employees too must get this facility. In cases of dengue, doctors advise rest. Medicines and rest are needed. These employees too must have the right to medical leave,” she added.
In the same way, Karol Bagh Zone Chairman Puneet Rai said, “One of the demands of the DBC employees in our zone is that their family members should be given jobs on compassionate grounds, because these employees risk their lives while working. If any accident happens while they are working in the field, their demand is that their family member should be given a job on compassionate grounds. This will ensure that their families do not face difficulties in the future.”
Puneet Rai further said, “If these employees go on strike on 29 September, it will be very unfortunate. Delhi is currently under the grip of malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. The situation has already worsened. That is why I have requested Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang to stop these employees from going on strike and to resolve their issues. AAP will take forward these demands of the employees and fully support them.”
