On Karva Chauth, while Delhi celebrated, MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) employees sat in protest — and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House, Ankush Narang, stood with them. He asserted their protest “will not go in vain” and BJP “will have to accept their demands.” The MCD LoP said BJP is denying DBC employees—made MTS under the AAP government—their rights by calling them contractual workers.
Slamming the Standing Committee Chairperson for greeting Delhi but ignoring the employees on protest, he said this is a fight for employees’ rights, not politics. Ankush Narang shared that he has written to CM Rekha Gupta, urging her to accept their legitimate demands and end the strike.
AAP’s LoP in MCD House Ankush Narang stated, “Despite it being the festival of Karva Chauth, it is painful to see mothers, sisters and brothers sitting on the roads demanding their rights. On Friday, I demanded in the Standing Committee meeting that discussion be held only on the issues of MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) and CFW (Contract Field Workers) employees, but the BJP did not allow it.”
He continued, “BJP had earlier deprived Domestic Breeding Checker (DBC) employees of their rights by calling their posts contractual. It was the Aam Aadmi Party government that made them MTS. Now that they are working on constitutional posts and the budget is already reserved for them, what is the BJP’s problem in accepting their demands? In 2013, 212 employees were given minimum grade pay and appropriate Dearness Allowance (DA) following a court order — so why are the remaining 5,000 employees being denied the same? What is their fault?”
Referring to the union’s letter, Ankush Narang said, “After receiving the union’s letter on 27 August, I forwarded their demands to the Mayor and Commissioner on 2 September. On 12 September, I requested the Medical Health Officer (MHO) to resolve the issue. I told them that these employees work tirelessly — they inspect tanks among larvae, climb four floors to check water storage, and conduct fogging operations.”
“This is the season of vector-borne diseases, and therefore the strike must be resolved immediately. The MHO promised to act, but did nothing. On 26 September, I stated in the House that the employees were going on strike from 29 September. It is BJP’s duty towards both Delhi’s citizens and these workers to resolve the issue. But even after 12 days of strike, neither the Mayor, nor the Commissioner, nor BJP leaders have found time to meet them,” he added.
Highlighting BJP’s insensitivity, the MCD LoP stated, “In the Standing Committee meeting, BJP mocked the striking employees by bringing a private resolution. The AAP government, after a long struggle, had brought a Bill to regularise sanitation workers, as BJP’s Commissioner never listened to the AAP government. Now when the BJP itself governs the MCD and holds the power to appoint the Commissioner, why are they finding it difficult to bring a Bill in the interest of employees?”
Explaining his demand, he further stated, “In the Standing Committee meeting, I asked for the Bill to be passed so that it could be implemented in the House on 14 October. But BJP gave no response. The truth is, BJP’s sensitivity has completely vanished. I even told the Standing Committee Chairperson, who was extending Karva Chauth greetings, to also look at the employees forced to observe Karva Chauth on the streets. The hands of these sisters sitting in protest have no mehndi, only mud. I told BJP leaders that they come asking for votes pretending to be someone’s son or daughter, but after coming to power they try to act like fathers. They have forgotten that elections come every five years.”
Calling for cooperation, Ankush Narang said, “Just as the AAP government made DBC employees MTS, the BJP should also fulfil the employees’ demands and take the credit. AAP will even support BJP in this. This is not a fight between AAP and BJP — it is a fight for the rights of MCD employees. On 14 October, the MCD House will convene. I have submitted a letter signed by 91 councillors to the Mayor, Commissioner and Corporation Secretary, requesting a special session to fulfil the employees’ demands.”
“In the Standing Committee meeting too, I only spoke about the employees. MCD workers are distressed and fogging operations have come to a halt. The Mayor’s arrogance has troubled the public as well. The sanitation workers’ union is also going on strike from 15 October. When AAP governed the MCD for two years, employees never went on strike. But ever since BJP took over, employees are repeatedly seen protesting on the streets for their legitimate demands and rights. AAP will fight their battle from the streets to the House. On 14 October, I will personally bring the Bill concerning employees to the House. The BJP-ruled MCD and its administration will have to accept the employees’ demands completely,” he asserted.
Ankush Narang writes to CM Rekha Gupta to fulfil employees’ demands
Sharing details of his letter, Ankush Narang said, “I have written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urging her to fulfil the demands of MTS employees. In the letter, I have mentioned that DBC employees of MCD have been protesting for the last 12 days outside the Civic Centre headquarters over their legitimate demands. These employees face wage discrimination despite performing the same work as others in the corporation. Neither the Mayor nor the Standing Committee Chairperson has taken any serious initiative to resolve their problems.”
Elaborating further, Ankush Narang said, “I have raised this issue several times in the MCD House and the Standing Committee. I have also written to the Hon’ble Mayor, MCD Commissioner and other concerned officials, requesting them to consider the genuine demands of DBC employees seriously and grant them their rightful benefits so they can return to work and continue protecting Delhiites from malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases. A delegation of DBC employees had also visited the Chief Minister’s office on 8 October, but even after waiting for three hours, they could not meet her — which is extremely unfortunate and shocking.”
He added, “The most important question is why such a huge pay difference exists for employees doing the same work in the same corporation. At present, 212 DBC employees receive a monthly salary of ₹27,500 as they have been granted an MTS grade pay of ₹5,200, while the remaining 5,000 DBC employees receive only ₹16,500 per month. Their main demand is equal pay for equal work — a completely legitimate demand for which they are sitting on protest.”
Ankush Narang further added, “If the MCD administration, with the intervention of the Chief Minister, accepts their demand for equal pay for equal work, the financial impact would be merely ₹50–60 crore — which is not a significant burden considering the large number of families it would support and the crucial public health protection these employees ensure for Delhi’s citizens.”
Pointing to the political context, he said, “Today, the BJP is in power in Delhi, at the Centre, and in the MCD, and even the Lokpal is under BJP’s government. Therefore, there should be no shortage of financial resources.”
Making a final appeal, the MCD LoP wrote, “I request Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to immediately intervene in this matter, ensure the acceptance of the legitimate demands of DBC employees, and end their strike so that the functioning of the corporation can run smoothly and Delhi’s citizens can remain healthy. I hope the Chief Minister will resolve this serious issue at the earliest.”
