Safai Karamcharis protest against MCG and contractor

16 January, 2013

Agitated over the non-payment of wages by a notorious contractor Balaji, the 'Safai Karamcharis' held a massive protest demonstration Wednesday outside the office of Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

THE DEMONSTRATORS blocked the road and almost came to blows with people trying to cross the road. “We were told that all sweepers and labourers will get Rs 5800 individually and when we went to take money today he was paying only Rs 3500 and said that he is deducting the remaining amount as provident funds," Kashi Ram, head of the Labour and Sweeper Community told this citizen journalist .

One of the sweepers who was also a part of the protest said, "He took my thumb print on a paper and paid only Rs 3000 but I threw that money on his face".??

Ram also said that they want to request the MCG who employed Satte Singh, owner of Balaji Contractor, to pay them full amount, which was decided at the start of the work.

Commissioner Vijay Dhaiya also looked worried after the protesters blocked the road and he quickly called the local police. But at the spot police was also not able to take any action and apparently seemed to be agreeing with the demands of Safai Karamcharis.?

"What they can do? Government should pay them their money on time. They are poor people who earn through these small labour works. If you don’t pay these small amounts, you can expect these protests," a policeman standing there said.

This is not the first time that Balaji Contractors is in news. Many a time, the local people and councillors alleged that he was not doing the work honestly and properly. RWAs are also annoyed with his inefficiency and dishonesty.?

He was also boycotted by the MCG earlier when many councillors complained against him in monthly corporation meetings but the question remains: why is he still operating and getting contracts from corporation.