Sanitation workers criticise loans extended to corporations

NEW DELHI: Unions of sanitation workers today criticised Delhi government for extending "conditional" loans to municipal corporations and said they would raise the matter before the High Court tomorrow even as the indefinite strike called by them entered the 12th day today.

The leaders of various sanitation workers alleged that while extending the loan of Rs 551 crore to municipal corporations, Delhi government has imposed conditions that would lead to "retrenchment" and a "ban on regularisation" of contract-based workers.

"We have decided to seek a permanent solution of our grievances from High Court which has sought our reply regarding the strike tomorrow. The conditional loan of Rs 551 crore by Delhi government is against our demands of regularisation of contract-based employees and we will raise the matter before court," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.

"A massive demonstration will be staged at Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's office in protest against his conditional loan to pay salaries of municipal corporation employees," he said.

"The striking employees and workers are fighting for a permanent solution to ensure timely payment of salaries and long pending dues which is not possible now as corporations are facing acute financial problems. All the relevant facts will be presented before the court by us," said Rajesh Mishra, president of United Front of MCD Employees.

With doctors, teachers and engineers dissociating themselves from the strike which began on January 27, the unions of sanitation workers are now leading it.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing a PIL for calling off the strike, had sought responses of the corporations and the sanitation workers' unions.