700 contractual Delhi Jal Board employees regularised by the Delhi Government

CM Arvind Kejriwal personally administered the process of regularisation and handed over certificates to all the employees

India

healthysoch

Going against nationwide trends of privatisation and decreasing permanent employees, the Delhi Government today regularised 700 contractual staffers of the Delhi Jal Board. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal personally administered the regularisation of the employees and even handed certificates to them on the occasion.

The CM stated — This is a landmark step taken by the Delhi Government; this mass regularisation is the first in the country. Never, in the history of Delhi, has any past government regularised contractual workers on such a large scale. Praises of step taken by the Delhi Government will echo all over India; other state governments will be compelled to follow in Delhi’s footsteps.

Hope and pray that such regularisation takes place in every department of the Delhi Government; we have very limited power but pushing as much as we can. Entire country was of the opinion that governments are incapable of running schools and hospitals effectively. We have proved that if the government is strong willed and honest, it can run both schools and hospitals successfully. Notion that once employees are regularised, they become lazy and complacent is a baseless hoax. All 700 regularised employees will work twice as hard now that they have a sense of security. We have busted the myth that regular employees do not deliver well on their duties; Delhi Government is a prime example of this feat.

In a historic first, 700 employees of the Delhi Jal Board were regularised in presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today. The move has been touted to be a landmark step in the direction of mass-regularisation of contractual workers. The newly regularised employees were handed over certificates confirming their employment by the CM at an event held at the Delhi Secretariat.

A wave of elation and joy has taken over the Delhi Jal Board because of this move. The employees were extremely emotional after receiving the fruit of their hard labour and wholeheartedly blessed the CM for recognising their efforts. Along with the Chief Minister, DJB CEO  Udit Prakash Rai and several high ranking officials of the government were present at the event.

On the occasion Arvind Kejriwal talked about how the Delhi Government was going against the nationwide trend of decreasing permanent employees and said, “Today is a very special day for all of us. Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party formed its government in Delhi back in 2015 , in these past seven years, we have made a lot of progress across all sectors be it education, healthcare, electricity, water, and many more. And our work is now being praised all over the world. I believe the step that we are going to take today is going to be historic. I have been informed that never has any of the past Delhi Governments regularised contractual workers on such a large scale. This is the first time that such mass regularisation has taken place in the entire country. Our nation is headed in the opposite direction where the number of regular employees is decreasing, and the number of non-regular employees is increasing.”

We came into power and proved that if the government is strong willed and honest, it can run both schools and hospitals successfully and efficiently: CM Arvind Kejriwal

The CM went on to talk about the debate on privatisation of government agencies and how employees are made to face the brunt of it. He said “When our government was formed in Delhi, the condition of government schools was extremely poor. The entire country was of the opinion that government schools should be shut.

It was believed that privatisation should be brought in for schools, handing them over to corporate giants, since the government was incapable of running good schools. Similar was the country’s stance on healthcare, where they believed that private hospitals are better. People all over the country held a prevailing notion that the government is incompetent in running hospitals effectively, and hence they should be shut or privatised.

However, we came into power and proved that if the government is strong willed and honest, it can run both schools and hospitals successfully and efficiently. If a government fails to deliver the bare minimum, which is running schools and hospitals, then it should resign. Such a government does not deserve to be in power. Another major public opinion which caused a stir was that once employees are regularised, they do not work as hard anymore – that they become complacent and lazy. This was the reason people cited against the idea of regularising workers, given the non-regular workers have a sword hanging over their heads.”

Talking about the mettle of government employees and their image in the society, he said, “We transformed the schools in Delhi and brought about a revolution in the field of education. The progress that has taken place in the education sector was not done by us, but by the excellent government school teachers and headmasters.

They are all government employees who have worked wonders in order to reform our government schools. Government hospitals too were remodelled and equipped with the latest facilities, all thanks to the hard work done by government doctors and nurses. So to say that ‘government employees do not work’ is a baseless hoax. If we work hand in hand with the government employees, address and solve their problems, then no one would work as hard as them. I have worked in both the private and the government sector, but the way we witnessed how Satya Gopal Ji and Udit Prakash Ji worked 24 hours a day during the overwhelming coronavirus waves was truly commendable. I have never seen such arduous dedication in any private company. So today, we must dispel this myth that government employees, once regularised, do not work.”

The CM further discussed the state of contractual employees and stated, “Today, 700 of Delhi Jal Board’s workers are being regularised. I can wholeheartedly declare to the world that these 700 employees, once regularised, will work twice as hard as they did before. This is because they have been given a sense of security, which encourages them to work diligently.

Earlier, as a contractual employee they lived with the uncertainty of not having a secure job – they considered shifting jobs to other sectors with more certainty. Now that they have been regularised, their unsettled mind will be at ease, and at least they won’t have to be on the lookout for another job, due to which they’ll perform better. So I am elated that you all are being regularised today. I hope and pray with all my heart that such regularisation takes place in every department of the Delhi Government.”

He continued, “However, as most of you are aware, the power and control that the Delhi Government can exercise is very limited. The Central Government has the final word over the state government. We were able to regularise you because Delhi Jal Board is an autonomous body with its own separate board calling the shots, and there is no interference from the Centre. We will make consistent efforts and negotiate with the Central Government to ensure more employees in other Delhi Government departments are regularised. Today is an instrumental day which proves that the Delhi Government not only works for the public but also takes great care of its employees.”

He concluded, “A major step has been taken today in the Jal Board, the demand for which will echo all over the country. People will believe that if it was done in Delhi, it must be done in their states as well. Hence, other state governments will be compelled to follow the footsteps of the Delhi Government. The myth that regular workers slack will also have to be dismissed. You have to deliver well on your duties and prove to those who spread such misleading information. I sincerely congratulate all employees and hope that you and your families are happy and healthy.”

The CM also took to Twitter to share the news and said, “Another promise fulfilled today. 700 contractual employees of the Delhi Jal Board were regularised today. I distributed their permanent job certificates myself and saw how happy they were. A longstanding dream of these employees has been realised. I wish the best to all of them.”

All the employees who have been regularised will henceforth enjoy perks and benefits like medical facilities, government accommodation, leave benefits and terminal dues like gratuity, NPS, LTC etc. They will receive their arrears from 2019, therefore, will get a significant financial benefit. Their salary is being almost doubled, and they will now avail DA facilities, annual increments, children education allowance, paternity leave, maternity leave and the like.

“I am extremely grateful to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. I am responsible for my mother and my dependent brothers and sisters. My mother remains extremely ill. With such a low salary, I was unable to meet my financial obligations to the rest of the family. Being a regular employee has increased my salary, and I will now be able to handle my responsibilities effectively. Today, my joy knows no bounds. I sincerely pray for CM Arvind Kejriwal’s wellbeing,” said Rakesh Kumar.

“The Chief Minister has done an excellent job. This has never happened under previous administrations. We will now work even harder. I am responsible for my elderly mother as well as five other family members. God bless the Chief Minister’s health. My problem is now resolved. As we are all confirmed, there is a joyful atmosphere throughout the Delhi Jal Board,” said Dalchand Singh.

“I sincerely thank the Chief Minister. I am the mother of three small children. With a low salary, it was becoming increasingly difficult to run the house. Now that my salary has increased, I am also able to properly educate my two daughters. I’ll be able to do it, and I’ll also be able to attend to my younger son’s education. I beseech God to grant the Chief Minister a long life,” said Bimla Rani.

healthysoch