NMMC’s contract workers placated, withdraw strike

VASHI: The contract workers of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) demanding permanent status and pay hike withdrew their protests on Thursday following assurance from Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. A discussion will soon be held with concerned officials to fulfill their demands, they were told.

The workers had been protesting in front of NMMC headquarters, CBD Belapur, since October 10, under the banner of Samaj Samata Kamagar Sanghatana ( SSKS).

After NMMC officials failed to respond to their demands, a dele gation of protestors l ed by SSKS city president Gajanan Bhoir met the minister during janata darbar held at Vishnudas Bhave auditorium, Vashi, where they were told that a meeting of Mayor Sagar Naik, Bhoir and NMMC commissioner Abasaheb Jarhad will be held to look into their demands.

The workers were joined by contractual nurses of the civic hospitals and secondary school teachers to seek permanent status in the civic body.

Orders were then given to the civic administration to complete the required paperwork to make them permanent staff.

Meanwhile, during the janata darbar, the minister gave a financial help of Rs50,000 to Koparkhairane resident Ayesha Shaikh, whose house was damaged after it was struck by l ightning on September 15. The fund was allocated by Mayor Sagar Naik from the mayor fund.

The minister also gave a grant of Rs1 lakh to the president of Apang Utkarsh Seva Sanstha Sanjay Panchal, that he had promised last month at a fund- raising event.

Also, in a bid to curb the NMMC’s expense on resolving problem of power distribution network in the city, the minister instructed Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited ( MSEDCL) to bear the cost for the same.