The Hindu : National : L-G urged to facilitate work by MCD sanitation staff in unauthorised colonies

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L-G urged to facilitate work by MCD sanitation staff in unauthorised colonies

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has urged Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna to issue necessary directions to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for according priority to the ``Avjidars” or substitute ``Safai Karamcharis” (sanitation workers) -- who have been employed for several years -- in engaging them as contract basis employees for sanitation work in unauthorised colonies.

Stating that the task of keeping a city of 16 million people clean had been entrusted to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for which the Delhi Government provides funds, the Chief Minister said there was dissatisfaction among the rank and file of sanitation workers because of the procedure being adopted by the MCD to appoint them for sanitation work in unauthorised colonies.

Ms. Dikshit said the sanitation workers had been demanding that the MCD first exhaust the list of Avjidars in recruitment, even for contract appointment, before it sought fresh recruits from outside.

The Chief Minister said she had convened a joint meeting of representatives of the sanitation workers where the Commissioner of MCD was also present and he informed that contract workers were being deployed as it was not possible to deploy municipal staff in unauthorised colonies till they are transferred to the MCD.

With the unions of sanitation workers sitting on a protest dharna for the past several days, the Chief Minister expressed concern that deterioration in sanitation levels might result in a health hazards. She said the Delhi Government was also willing to release more funds to the MCD for ensuring sanitary conditions in unauthorised colonies. As such, she requested the L-G to intervene in the matter so that the agitating employees get justice.

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