New Delhi: With less than 9 days to go before the all-crucial Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is yet to roll out its manifesto.
Sources told News 18 that the crux of the AAP’s poll promise will be its plans for the safai karamcharis (sanitary workers) who work for the MCD.
A part of the manifesto, which is with News 18, promises a slew of welfare measures for the safai karamcharis, including health insurance, a fixed deposit of Rs. 50,000 for their children and free equipment for when the workers are on duty.
The most crucial of all promises, perhaps, is that AAP, if voted to power in the MCD, would ensure that salaries reach the workers’ accounts by the 7th of every month. Another crucial promise is the regularization of the nearly 40,000 ‘substitute’ sanitary workers.
The MCD had recently faced a severe crisis with sanitary workers going on strike. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), which employs 19,048 sanitary workers (the highest of the three Corporations), saw five strikes in a span on two years. This had raised a stink in Delhi and had prompted a blame-game between the AAP-ruled Delhi government and the BJP-run MCD.
The AAP manifesto, yet to be released, says, “If AAP is elected to the MCD, we will (ensure) the employment of more safai karamcharis, regularisation of ‘substitute’ (contractual) safai karamcharis, guaranteed payment of salaries of safai karamcharis by the 7th of every month ."
"AAP will guarantee direct benefit transfer (DBT) by the 7th of every month in the bank accounts of safai karamcharis, Rs 50,000 FD for the welfare of the children of our safai karamcharis. AAP will roll out a scheme, wherein Rs 50,000 FD for girl child of safai karamcharis to be matured at 21 years age, will be guaranteed. This will not only secure the future of the children of our safai karamcharis but will also ensure financial security,” it adds.
The manifesto reads, “(AAP promises) guaranteed Family Health Insurance cover for every safai karamchari. Each safai karamchari will get a cashless card for his medical and health expenses. AAP will provide, free-of-cost, protective gear like masks, gloves, boots, among other things. AAP will create clean resting rooms and lunch rooms near big dhalaos which will have food at subsidized rates, drinking water, fans and other such facilities for the safai karamcharis to sit and rest.”
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