As the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) workers’ indefinite strike entered its eighth day on Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors and leaders of the Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP) extended their support to the protesters.
Over 5,000 MCD workers, including domestic breeding checkers, multitasking staff, and contractual field workers, have been on strike since September 29, demanding regularisation of services, equal pay for equal work, earned and medical leave, and compensatory jobs for families of deceased employees amid a surge in vector-borne diseases in Delhi.
Led by the Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Ankush Narang, AAP councillors joined the protest, accusing the BJP-ruled MCD of “criminal neglect” of employees and public health. “For the past eight days, 5,200 MTS and contractual field workers of the civic body’s Malaria-Dengue Department have been on strike. They have worked in disease-prone conditions for 25-30 years but are still denied equal pay and medical leave. Their demands are completely justified,” Mr. Narang said.
Surge in vector-borne diseases
According to the MCD data, Delhi has reported 431 malaria, 840 dengue, and 75 chikungunya cases so far this year. In the past week ending October 4 alone, 60 cases of malaria, 81 of dengue, and 14 of chikungunya have been reported - highest cases in a week this year.
