Haryana: Safai Karamcharis Call Off Strike After Meeting Chief Minister

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Chandigarh, September 11 – Safai Karamcharis on Friday announced the end of their strike after meeting Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, following an agreement on their demands. Notably, representatives of the Safai Karamchari Union held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Sh. Vipul Goel and Cabinet Minister, Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi, during which an agreement was reached on their demands.

During the meeting, it was agreed that Safai Karamcharis would be given a uniform allowance of Rs. 440 per month instead of a one-time uniform allowance. With regard to the demand for equal pay for equal work and arrears, payment has already been made to eligible employees.

As demanded, Safai Karamcharis on municipal rolls are being extended the benefit of LTC as per instructions. Directions have also been issued for annual medical check-ups of Safai Karamcharis and sewermen—regular, municipal roll and HKRNL—through the Health Department at the expense of the respective urban local bodies.

Furthermore, in-principle approval was also given to extend the benefit of the medical cashless policy applicable to government employees to regular employees of urban local bodies, pensioners and their dependents. Besides, the Department has already issued instructions for payment of a risk allowance of Rs. 2,000 per month to Safai Karamcharis on municipal rolls. It was also agreed to extend the risk allowance to regular employees.

In the meeting, in-principle approval was also given to enhance the amount under the Mukhyamantri Haryana Karamchari Durghatna Bima Yojana from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh in

the event of death while on duty of Safai Workers on municipal rolls, including Safai Karamcharis, sewermen and Safai Daroga/Head Sewermen.

It was further agreed that Safai Karamcharis and sewermen on municipal rolls who open savings accounts with SBI would be provided Rs. 50 lakh by the bank in case of accidental death or permanent disability and Rs. 25 lakh in case of partial disability. In-principle approval was also given to include Safai Karamcharis and sewermen on municipal rolls under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–CHIRAYU. The annual premium of Rs. 9,203 per employee will be paid by the respective urban local body.

In-principle approval was also given to provide a total of 20 days of medical leave in a calendar year and to amend the relevant service rules to enable eligible Safai Karamcharis and sewermen to be promoted to clerical (Group C) posts. In-principle approval was also given to increase the monthly wages of sewermen working on municipal rolls by Rs. 2,100. Safai Karamcharis and sewermen engaged through outsourcing agencies will be ensured the prescribed minimum wages, while eligible employees will also be provided ESI and EPF benefits.

It was agreed that after the Government determines the process for recruitment against vacant posts of sewermen and Safai Karamcharis, the selection criteria would be finalised within one month and an advertisement issued within 15 days thereafter.