Vashi: Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik has assured that he will take up the cause of contract workers involved in garbage collection and transportation. He has promised to get them ‘equal pay for equal work’. Naik has said that if need arises he will also approach the Supreme Court.
Naik’s assurance came during the janata darbar held on Monday at the Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium in Vashi. He assured all contract workers who came to air their grievances after being laid off by former contractor MS Antony Waste Handling Pvt Ltd.
“I will take up your cause at all levels, including approaching the Supreme Court if need be. I will file a petition in the court not as a minister but as an individual to get you justice,” Naik informed the workers.
Naik who pointed fingers at the city Congress unit for the fiasco said, “You all know what has happened. The general body of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had last year cleared the rate of Rs1,503 per metric tonne.
However, Congress approached the chief minister alleging corruption in the entire deal, and an inquiry was ordered in the matter by urban development department.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s additional commissioner who carried out the inquiry said the rate of Rs1,503 was high because of the policy of equal pay for equal work. Never in the report it was mentioned that corruption was responsible for such costs.”
“The urban development department recommended bringing down the rate to Rs1,233 per metric tonne. Are you ready to accept a salary cut and work?
Today, you are working for Rs11,000, but are you ready to work for Rs5,000 per month? I will take up your cause and fight for justice. Workers in other departments will be earning more salary and you will be earning less salary for the same work. It is against justice,” he told the workers.
The minister said, “I have fixed up a meeting at Mantralaya in next two days, and I would request deputy municipal commissioner Aziz Shaikh and additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Pattiwar to give a detailed presentation before the urban development department officials.”
The general body in August rejected the rate proposal for Rs1,233 per metric tonne and stuck to the old rate of Rs1,503 per metric tonne, Naik said.
DNA/ Rahul M Tawade
