Delhi: South corporation agrees to demands of domestic breeding checkers

NEW DELHI: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to extend contractual period of domestic breeding checkers (DBC) from six months to one year. The decision was taken after DBC workers warned they will stop working if a decision was not taken by September 30.
Leader of House, SDMC, Narendra Chawla said, “In a joint meeting with the commissioner and other members of the deliberative wing, the issue was discussed in detail.Looking into the hard work these DBC workers put in, we decided to extend their contractual term to a year and a proposal in this regard will be presented before a standing committee meeting by the public health department.”
“We have also decided to work on changing their designation from DBC to field workers in a phased manner, since there is no such position as DBC in municipal rules,” he added.
Last week, at least 1,350 DBCs of SDMC had threatened to go on strike if their contractual agreement is not extended for a year. “We still stand by our demands unless a copy of the order is given to us, making everything formal. We respect all senior officials and representatives of the ruling party but we can’t take this chance. We had a meeting with the mayor and municipal health officer last week but let them come with the official order first,” said Devanand Sharma, president of Anti-Malaria Karamchari Sangh.
The strike, if it happens, may hamper the exercise of spraying and fogging of insecticides to control vector-borne diseases. Unlike east and north corporations, which have extended the agreement for a year, SDMC is extending the contract for these workers for just six months. Their present contract will get over on September 30.
“This situation has occurred despite the assurance given by former mayor Sunita Kangra for extending the contract by a year,” added Sharma.
“It is difficult to work under the fear of losing our job. We have also asked them to fix our designation as field workers,” said another DBC worker.