In a historic first, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of MCD has transferred the salaries of Safai Karmacharis on the first day of the month itself. This move puts an end to prolonged delays that had become customary for decades. This achievement, which the BJP failed to accomplish in a 15-year tenure, has been successfully realised within a mere three months under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal and marks a significant milestone in the fight against corruption and negligence of workers.
During a press conference on Tuesday, AAP MCD in-charge and MLA, Shri Durgesh Pathak, conveyed the gratitude of Safai Karmacharis of Delhi towards Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. He announced, “The 1st of July will be remembered as a momentous day in Delhi’s history, as all sanitation workers received their salaries on time for the first time. We are deeply grateful for the vision and leadership of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, which led to the resolution of an issue that plagued the city for decades. This accomplishment exemplifies his unparalleled dedication and commitment.”
The delay by MCD in paying wages and pensions to sanitation workers has been a major recurrent issue in Delhi so far, with numerous news reports highlighting the hardships faced by the workers, even on Diwali. Shri Durgesh Pathak shared news reports from 2015 to 2022, which exposed the frequent salary delays, ranging from months to a year, and said, “The MCD’s overall condition has been severely affected by the BJP’s rampant corruption, with sanitation workers consistently enduring salary delays of several months during the BJP regime.
Emphasising the significance of this achievement, the AAP leader explained how it was a longstanding issue that led to several protests by workers at various locations, including Sansad Marg, Jantar Mantar, Civic Center, Mayor’s House, Deputy Mayor’s House, and the BJP office, but to no avail. “Despite the BJP’s 15-year tenure, they failed to find a solution, whereas Shri Arvind Kejriwal accomplished it within just 3 months,” he said.
Shri Durgesh Pathak emphasised the vital role of sanitation workers in maintaining the cleanliness of Delhi and raised concerns about the morality of expecting clean streets when the salaries of workers were withheld for months. He stated, “The sweepers begin their day at 5 o’clock in the morning, dedicated to cleaning the streets of Delhi. How can we expect them to fulfil their duties without timely wages? Reflect on how motivated you would feel to work if your salary was delayed for over 6 months. Without timely payment and respect, no organization or city can thrive.”
Highlighting the vital role played by sanitation workers in keeping Delhi clean and sanitary, the AAP leader raised pertinent questions about the morality of expecting clean streets when the salaries of workers were withheld for months. He stated, “The Safai Karmacharis diligently start their day at 5 o’clock in the morning, armed with brooms, to tackle the dirty streets of Delhi. While the city demands cleanliness, how can we expect them to fulfil their duties without providing their rightful timely wages? I implore each member of our audience to reflect on how motivated they would feel to work if their salaries were withheld for over 6 months. How can we fathom the struggles they face in supporting their families, educating their children, or even putting food on their tables? Without timely remuneration and respect for the workers, no organisation or city can hope to thrive.”
Shri Durgesh Pathak expressed gratitude to the dedicated employees of the MCD, highlighting the continuity in the workforce and systems. “Notably, there have been no transfers or suspensions of MCD officers since AAP took charge. We had the same workforce, system, and civic centre as did the BJP, but under AAP leadership, we have facilitated the timely payment of salaries to all sanitation workers.”
Looking towards the future, Shri Durgesh Pathak assured the sanitation workers that their pending issues would also be equitably resolved under the able leadership of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, reiterating the party’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
