Delhi government woos sanitation workers ahead of MCD polls

New Delhi: In an apparent attempt to woo the sanitation workers of three BJP-controlled civic bodies ahead of the municipal polls next year, the Delhi government has ordered that they be posted within 15 km of their place of residence.

The AAP government has also authorised the Municipal Commissioners to effect inter-corporation transfer of sanitation workers for the purpose.

There are about 65,000 sanitation workers in three civic bodies. East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has 15,000 sanitation workers, while South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) have 25,000 each.

"It has been observed that a large number of safai karmacharis in all the three municipal corporations have to travel more than 20 km from their residence to reach place of their work early in the morning.

"Sometimes it involves a travel of more than two hours in the morning to reach their place of work which affects punctuality as well as output. At the same time, it is inconvenient to this vulnerable section of workmen," Ramesh Negi, Principal Secretary (Urban Development), said in his order.

In the order, Negi, who is also Director of Local Bodies, said, "Commissioners (of all three civic bodies) are authorized to effect inter-corporation transfer of safai karmacharies only on above condition to ensure that they are posted within 15 km of their residence. The compliance of the order may be submitted within one month," he said.

AAP had made its debut in the municipal by-elections in May this year, winning five of the 13 seats for which polling was held.

Sanitation staff of the three civic bodies would play an important role in the municipal elections next year.

On several occasions, AAP has accused BJP of promoting "rampant corruption" in the MCDs, while the latter shot back assailing the Kejriwal government for not releasing funds to cash-strapped civic bodies required for paying salaries to the sanitation workers.