MCD Approves Rs 800 Crore for Regularising Contract Workers
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has allocated a substantial Rs 800 crore to regularise 12,000 contractual and daily wage employees. This decision, made during the special budget session for the fiscal year 2025-26, was met with heated debates and disruptions, especially from opposition councillors who raised questions over the allocation and the process behind it.
The MCD’s budget proposal, presented by the Leader of the House, included a reallocation of funds, with Rs 500 crore sourced from the Mayor’s Fund and Rs 300 crore taken from road maintenance and construction budgets. This Rs 800 crore fund aims to convert contractual positions into permanent ones and adjust the salaries of employees due for promotion. It is expected to provide much-needed job security for workers who have long been in precarious employment conditions, fulfilling essential municipal roles.However, the presentation was anything but smooth. As discussions began, members of the BJP and other opposition parties, including Congress, launched protests. The mood in the House turned chaotic as BJP councillors tore up the agenda and climbed onto the Mayor’s desk, disrupting the meeting. Despite the interruptions, the session was briefly adjourned, and proceedings resumed after a 20-minute break. The opposition expressed concerns over the transparency of the fund reallocation, with particular attention to the Mayor’s Fund, which had initially been set at Rs 500 crore but was redirected to other purposes.
While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defended the decision, stating that the regularisation of employees was crucial for the welfare of workers and their families, the opposition questioned the legality and the fiscal prudence of such decisions. The opposition’s primary concern was that the reallocation of funds could lead to a lack of accountability in the usage of municipal resources. They also raised doubts about the legality of some proposals, including the waiving of property taxes for properties up to 100 square yards.The budget session also highlighted a proposal to waive property taxes for smaller properties, with reductions planned for properties ranging from 100 to 500 square yards. This move is seen as an effort to ease the financial burden on the residents of Delhi, especially those in low-income areas. While the ruling party emphasised the potential benefits for the common people, the opposition demanded a detailed financial plan to ensure the viability of the tax waiver and questioned whether such a policy would result in a significant loss of revenue for the corporation.
Despite the political theatrics, the proposals for employee regularisation and tax waivers were eventually passed, but not without further scrutiny. Opposition Leader expressed concerns over the long-term implications of these decisions, especially regarding fiscal discipline and governance transparency. The AAP, however, defended the moves as crucial steps towards creating a more secure workforce and alleviating the financial burden on Delhi’s smaller property owners.The MCD’s decision to regularise the employees is a step towards improving the working conditions and job security of thousands of workers who play a key role in maintaining Delhi’s municipal services. This move is part of the AAP’s broader agenda to increase the efficiency and transparency of local governance, but it also has the potential to spark more political battles in the coming months.The political tensions surrounding the budget and the regularisation of workers highlight the ongoing struggle for power between the AAP and the BJP in Delhi’s municipal affairs. As the city moves towards the next election cycle, these decisions will likely remain a key point of contention, with both parties using the budget as a platform to address voter concerns.
As discussions around the budget continue, the city’s residents will be keenly watching the implementation of these policies. The fate of the 12,000 employees who stand to benefit from this regularisation, as well as the effectiveness of the tax relief measures, will be crucial in shaping the future of municipal governance in Delhi.
