Over nine lakh students are affected by the teachers' strike
The face-off between the AAP Government and the BJP-led municipal corporations over funding of salaries has turned into a city-wide protest today with doctors and teachers joining the striking sanitation workers.
The roads in the national capital were strewn with garbage, hospitals and all schools in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Council (EDMC) area were shut as strike entered the sixth day today.
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today met with the striking workers, who after the meeting said they will continue the strike till they get their salaries. The protesters will, however meet LG again on Wednesday.
There are 22,500 teachers under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), of which 16,000 have gone on an indefinite strike forcing schools to remain closed in the NDMC and EDMC area. Though, schools under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) remained open but no classes were held as teachers were on a symbolic strike wearing black bands on their arms.
MCD Teachers association president, Mr Ram Niwas told NDTV: "We understand our strike affects the future of the students but teachers in the NDMC have not received salaries for the last two months whereas EDMC haven't received for 4 months so how will our families survive? We will conduct extra classes for students when this strike ends."
Over nine lakh students are affected by the teachers' strike.
Over 7,000 doctors under the MCD have also begun their indefinite strike blaming the corporation for untimely payment of salaries. However, emergency services at the hospitals remain functional.
AAP, which runs the government, and the BJP, which heads the civic bodies on strike, continued to blame each for the crisis.