Hansi:– A press conference was organized on Sunday at the DMC office under the chairmanship of ADC and DMC Lakshit Sareen regarding various demands of sanitation employees and fire employees. During the press conference, he gave detailed information about the decisions taken and the in-principle agreements reached by the government after sympathetically considering the demands of the employees. He appealed to the sanitation employees to end their strike and return to duty after most of their demands had been accepted by the government, and to cooperate in restoring the city's sanitation system.
ADC and DMC Lakshit Sareen said that the government has adopted a positive approach towards most of the demands of the Municipal Employees Union, Haryana and the Fire Employees Union and has given in-principle approval to them. He said that out of 15 major demands of the employees, the government has accepted 12 demands in one form or another.
He said that sanitation employees are being provided a uniform allowance of ?440 per month along with their salary. In addition, eligible employees have already been paid under the principle of equal pay for equal work. The demand related to LTC of employees has also been accepted.
He said that in-principle approval has been given for payment of minimum wages as prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act. Along with this, in-principle approval has also been given to provide eligible employees the benefits of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).
Lakshit Sareen said that considering the nature of the work performed by sanitation employees, in-principle approval has been given to provide them a risk allowance of ?2,000 per month. In addition, in-principle approval has been given to increase the compassionate assistance amount from ?5 lakh to ?10 lakh.
He said that a positive decision has also been taken on the demand related to accident insurance of employees. In-principle approval has been given for an insurance amount of ?50 lakh in case of death in an accident and ?25 lakh in case of permanent disability.
The ADC and DMC said that in-principle approval has been given to include sanitation employees and daily-wage employees working in the municipality under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)-Chirayu. This will enable eligible employees and their families to avail themselves of healthcare facilities.
He said that the demand related to leave for employees has also been accepted. In-principle approval has now been given for 20 medical leaves and 20 casual leaves.
Lakshit Sareen said that the government has also taken a positive decision on the demand related to the promotion of sanitation employees and sewer men. In-principle approval has been given for provisions for promotion to the post of Clerk (Group-C). This will provide eligible employees with opportunities for career advancement.
The ADC and DMC said that one of the major demands of sanitation employees relates to the regularization of sanitation and fire employees working on the municipal roll. The matter is currently under legal examination by the government. He said that the government is ready to bring these employees under the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, so that they can receive benefits almost equivalent to those available to regular employees.
He said that the government is also ready to provide job security to these employees up to the age of 60 years. Along with this, the government has also considered increasing their minimum salary by an additional 15 percent over the prescribed eligibility. At present, sanitation employees working on the municipal roll are being paid ?19,000 per month, which is being considered for an increase to ?21,000 per month.
He said that in-principle agreement has also been reached to provide employees other benefits under the said Act, including half-yearly salary increments, death-cum-retirement gratuity, maternity leave, financial assistance under ex-gratia and ex-gratia appointments. These benefits are almost equivalent to those available to regular employees.
Lakshit Sareen said that the government has adopted a positive and sympathetic approach towards the demands of sanitation and fire employees. Almost all reasonable demands related to the employees have been accepted in principle. He said that the government's objective is to protect the interests of employees while also ensuring that the city's sanitation system remains smooth.
He said that due to the strike by sanitation employees, not only is the city's sanitation system being affected, but ordinary citizens, shopkeepers and people visiting markets are also facing difficulties. Accumulation of garbage at various places is affecting cleanliness and also increases the possibility of the spread of diseases.
**It Is Essential to Maintain the City's Sanitation System During the Festival Season
The ADC and DMC said that the festival season is about to begin in the coming days. During Raksha Bandhan and other festivals, the movement of people in markets and public places increases. In such a situation, maintaining an efficient sanitation system in the city is an administrative priority. He appealed to sanitation employees to take into account the positive decisions taken by the government on their demands, end their strike and return to duty at the scheduled time.
He said that sanitation employees are an important link in the city's cleanliness system. Only with their cooperation can the city be kept clean and beautiful. He appealed to the employees to cooperate with the administration and play their important role in improving the city's sanitation system.
**Agency to Start Sanitation Work in the City from August 24
Lakshit Sareen said that to ensure smooth sanitation arrangements in the city, sanitation work through an agency will be started from Monday, August 24. He clarified that this arrangement is being made to prevent disruption of the city's sanitation system and to provide a clean environment to the general public.
He appealed to all sanitation employees and other concerned persons not to create any obstruction in the sanitation work being carried out by the agency. If any person deliberately obstructs the sanitation work, action will be taken against them as per the rules.
He said that the administration does not want to take action against anyone, but wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and mutual cooperation. The government has taken positive decisions on most of the reasonable demands of the employees, and therefore the employees should also end their strike in the interest of the city and return to duty.
ADC and DMC Lakshit Sareen also appealed to the residents of the city to cooperate with the administration in maintaining cleanliness, dispose of garbage only at designated places and ensure their participation in the campaign to make the city clean and beautiful.