Abohar MC sanitation workers call off agitation

Our Correspondent

Abohar, November 19

The Municipal Council Safai Sewak Union on Monday agreed to call off their stir that was launched on Thursday resenting non-payment of salary for the past four months.

District Youth Congress ex-president Sandeep Jakhar contacted the union activists and heard their grievances.

Union members told him that they had not been paid salary for the past four months. A few months ago, their salary was released only after the Deputy Commissioner intervened as MC president Pramil Kalani had quit his office on March 10 and he was subsequently removed by the government following an inquiry related to the sale of a land. The council had not elected vice-president for the past two years. This had paralysed the day-to-day functioning of the council.

“The council has 156 regular safai sewaks against the sanctioned strength of 325. A company based in Bathinda was authorised to recruit 100 safai sewaks on ad hoc basis, but they too were not paid regularly as the council failed in streamlining payment of bills submitted by the company, union members explained.

The union members said the council had forwarded pension files of 103 workers to the Director, Local Bodies, in 2011, but the same were gathering dust in the directorate.

Sandeep interacted with officials concerned and assured the union that salary for two months would be released this month and resources would be tapped to clear dues for two more months next month. He also assured to take up pension related cases with Minister of Local Bodies Navjot Singh Sidhu through PPCC president Sunil Jakhar soon. Following this, the union members agreed to call off the stir.