In a moving Diwali gesture, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) MCD government has credited salaries and bonuses early to its 64,000 sanitation workers, marking a first in MCD’s history. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi announced the Rs 23 crore Diwali bonus and November salary payments, ensuring workers can celebrate the festival with their families. Under AAP’s rule, timely payments have replaced the long delays of the BJP era, where workers went unpaid for months.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, addressing the press, expressed joy in sharing the update with the people of Delhi, especially the underprivileged sanitation workers who have struggled with irregular wages in past years. “This is great news for Delhi’s people, particularly for our hardworking sanitation workers. The AAP’s MCD government under the leadership of Mayor Shelly Oberoi has done a great job.”
The AAP Supremo continued, “For the last 18 years, all MCD employees, let alone sanitation workers, have faced delays of up to six to eight months in receiving their wages, forcing them to protest and spend nearly 70-80% of their time demonstrating—not for major demands but just to get their basic salaries. Eighteen years ago, MCD used to get their monthly salary. But after that, BJP came to power in the MCD and during its tenure, people did not get their salaries on time for months.”
Arvind Kejriwal noted that the level of corruption was so high that funds meant for salaries were often siphoned away. With AAP’s governance in the MCD for the past two years, the situation has completely transformed,”
“In the last two years, we have ensured that employees receive their wages in the first week of each month. There has not been a single instance in the past two years where sanitation workers needed to strike or protest for their salaries. Under BJP rule, sanitation workers were frequently on strike, spending more time on protest than on work, but now they receive their wages consistently and without delay,” affirmed the AAP Chief.
Arvind Kejriwal affirmed that the AAP government’s commitment to fair and timely compensation extended even further this month, with an advance salary credited to all MCD sanitation workers before Diwali, “Although October hasn’t ended yet, we have credited November’s salary to sanitation workers’ accounts, allowing them to celebrate Diwali with their families without financial stress. The salary which was supposed to be credited by the 7th of November has been already credited in their accounts. This is a first in MCD’s history and a direct outcome of an honest government focused on the welfare of its workers,” he added.
The AAP head mentioned that in addition to early salaries, the Delhi government has also provided a Diwali bonus to sanitation workers. “Previously, they had to protest to receive their Diwali bonuses. But this time, an additional Rs 23 crore in bonuses has been deposited in their accounts well before the festival. I hope our sanitation workers can now enjoy Diwali joyfully with their families, without the worry of overdue wages and missing bonuses,” he added.
Arvind Kejriwal concluded with a message of gratitude and celebration, acknowledging the choice of Delhi’s people who supported an honest government both in the Delhi administration and the MCD. “This is the result of Delhi citizens electing a government committed to transparency and service, just as they previously did at the state level. I extend my warmest wishes to all sanitation workers in Delhi for a joyful Diwali. This achievement of timely salary and bonus payments marks a historic first for MCD.”
Diwali is a festival of lights, meant for lighting lamps and candles, not for burning firecrackers that pollute and harm everyone: Arvind Kejriwal
On the question of banning firecrackers on Diwali, Arvind Kejriwal said, “The Supreme Court, High Court, and all courts have emphasized that, considering pollution concerns, we should light lamps instead of bursting firecrackers. This is a festival of lights, and we should celebrate it by lighting lamps and candles, not by setting off fireworks.”
“Bursting firecrackers leads to pollution, and pollution harms everyone. By avoiding pollution, it’s not as if we are doing a favor to others; in reality, we are doing a favor to ourselves. We and our little children will have to bear the brunt of the pollution. So there is no question of Hindu or Muslim in this. Everyone’s breath is important, everyone’s life is important,” appealed the former Delhi Chief Minister.
