"Only Kejriwal's guarantee is the real guarantee. All other guarantees are a lie. Kejriwal does what he says. Kejriwal doesn't lie," proclaimed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, promising regular employment for daily wage workers. Despite such assurances, the grim reality for many of these workers who were recognised by the government as Covid warriors is far from what was pledged. Months have passed without pay, pushing families to the brink of hunger and despair.
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She added, "We went door-to-door asking people to vote for Kejriwal, so now it's time for him to make our jobs permanent. Once we have stable employment, we won't need free electricity, free bus services, or free water. We'll be able to pay for these services ourselves. Our children's education is doomed today."
A Household on the Edge
Sunita Gupta, another affected worker, shared a heartbreaking account of her family's struggles. "I'm facing serious problems, and my household is struggling. Just yesterday, my husband fainted due to the immense stress we're under. I can't even afford to pay my daughter's college fees."
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"To make ends meet, we have to work part-time jobs in addition to our regular work. We live in a rented house, and given our circumstances, I feel powerless to speak up or demand change," she added.
For the last two months, the workers under Delhi's health department have been protesting demanding regular employment and their pending wages. The situation has become increasingly precarious for these workers who were once hailed as Covid warriors by the government.
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Kuljeet Kaur paints an equally bleak picture. "Our salaries haven't been credited for three months, and we've been sitting here for two months, making it five months in total. Our households are somehow functioning, but whatever savings we had have run out."
She went on to add, "We demand that our employment be regularised and our salaries be paid, ensuring job security for 60 years. We continue to come for the protest because the bus services are free. However, the day we have to use metro services, we might not come."
Vinod Sangath, Founder of Dr. BR Ambedkar Manavadhikari Sangathan, emphasised the human rights aspect. "Many have been serving in these dispensaries for 10-15 years, and yet they face intimidation from contractors, companies, or administrators. How are these workers expected to perform their duties when they can't even afford to feed themselves or their families?"
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Hafiz Ghulam, General Secretary of Thekedari Hatao Rashtriya Sanyukt Morcha, explained how introducing contractors as middlemen has destabilised the workers' careers. "The duty is not fixed. The workers are uncertain about where they'll be posted or how many hours they'll be required to work. Furthermore, the contractors will have the authority to decide whether to retain these workers or bring in new recruits," he said.
Hollow Covid Warriors Certificates
We reached out to the Directorate General of Health Services for comments on the story. As of the time of publication, they have not responded to our queries. Despite legal mandates and lofty promises from the government, these workers find themselves embroiled in a grim reality. Left with unpaid wages and job insecurity, their future remains overshadowed by the very system that should be ensuring their welfare and dignity.
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