North corpn’s teachers warn of strike if unpaid

NEW DELHI: Over 8,000 teachers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, who said they have not received their salaries since May, have threatened to go on strike from August 16 if they are not paid.

The teachers’ association said they were yet to receive salaries for May, June and July and on Saturday sent a letter to the north corporation’s mayor and education department, giving them a “15 day-ultimatum”.

The civic agency said they were facing losses of around ₹200 crore due to the lockdown, but are working to find a solution to pay the teachers within 10 days.

The north corporation employs around 8,500 teachers across 714 of its primary schools.

Ramniwas Solanki, general secretary, MCD Teachers Association said though schools are shut for students, teachers are taking classes online and have also been distributing books and study material to students.

North corporation mayor Jai Prakash said the already cashstrapped civic body’s troubles were exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which he said severely hurt their earnings.

Property tax, parking contracts, advertisements, stamp duty are among the body’s main sources of revenue.

“Our earnings have been affected drastically due to the pandemic. We are facing a loss of around ₹200 crore in the first two quarters of this financial year, so paying our employees has become tough. We are in contact with our teachers and have assured them to pay their salaries in next 10 days,” the mayor said.

Solanki added that the admissions process has started, and warned work on that front would be affected if they go on strike.