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Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai: 8,000 Contractual Workers Announce Indefinite Strike Over Wage Dispute, NMMC Refutes Allegations

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Navi Mumbai: The ongoing dispute between contractual employees and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) over wage regularization under the Minimum Wages Act has intensified. While the employee union has announced to go on indefinite strike,  civic administration denies the allegations made. 

Indefinite Strike Announced

More than 8,000 contractual workers have announced an indefinite strike starting February 10, citing NMMC’s failure to address their long-standing grievances. “Our demands for equal pay for equal work have been consistently ignored by the administration, leaving the workers with no choice but to go on strike,” said a union member affiliated with the Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh,

A month-long chain hunger strike had been initiated last year by the union, during which several workers reportedly fell ill and required hospitalization. “Despite this, no concessions were made by the municipal administration,”  claimed a union representative.

NMMC Refutes Allegations

However, NMMC has refuted these claims, maintaining that workers’ welfare has always been prioritized. ” Since its inception, contractual workers have been engaged through contractors for essential services such as sanitation, water supply, and healthcare, with wages being paid as per legal provisions, ” said an official.

Administration further revealed that representations were submitted to the state government on July 25, 2022, and July 18, 2023, seeking guidance on implementing equal pay for equal work for contractual employees. “In response, on September 25, 2024, the state government refused to provide financial assistance, citing existing laws and regulations, and advised NMMC to take necessary action independently,” informed the official. 

Following this, a committee was established to examine legal provisions, prevailing rules, and judicial rulings from the High Court and Supreme Court. A fact-based report is informed to have been  prepared and shared with all workers’ unions “but it was not accepted by the protesting employees. Despite multiple meetings between senior municipal officials and protestors, attempts to convince them to withdraw the strike have been unsuccessful,” said the official. 

The Municipal Commissioner is reported to have personally met the protestors and subsequently ordered the formation of a special committee, led by a retired Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government. “The committee has been instructed to submit its findings at the earliest, considering the concerns of sanitation workers. The details of this process have been shared with Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh and seven other workers’ unions.Continuous discussions are said to be underway with all concerned unions to prevent the mass strike and ensure that essential services remain unaffected,” said the official.

Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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Maharashtra

Five-year-old kidnapped girl rescued from Vakola, five arrested, girl held hostage by uncle in Panol

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested five accused, including uncle Momani, on charges of kidnapping a five-year-old girl. The gang had planned to kidnap and sell the girl. A case of kidnapping of a minor girl was registered on November 22 under the limits of Vakola police station. Several teams were formed in Zones 8 and 7. During the investigation, it was revealed that a suspicious rickshaw had gone to Panvel and returned. A man, a woman, a rickshaw driver and the girl were in the rickshaw between 2 and 3 am. The kidnappers were identified as the girl’s uncle Lawrence Niconelis Fernandes, 42, and his wife Momani, who is a Mangal degree, both of them had gone to Panvel by rickshaw and were going to sell the kidnapped girl. The kidnapped girl was recovered from the possession of their acquaintance Sans. The Sans gave details about the wanted accused during the investigation, after which Windra Dinesh Chavan, 60, and Anjali Ajit Korgaokar, 57, were arrested from New Panvel, Raigad. The kidnapped girl was sold for Rs 1,80,000 and Vrinda Chavan was taken into custody from her house and the girl was safely brought to Vakola. This operation was carried out by DCP Manish Kalwaniya on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and the girl was recovered safely. In this case, the police have arrested rickshaw driver Latif Abdul Majeed Sheikh, 52, a resident of Santa Cruz, Lawrence Nicholas Fernandes, 42, a laborer from Raigarh, Mangal Dagra Jadhav, 38, from Raigarh, Kiran Maruti Sons, 38, from Panvel, Vrinda Vanish Chavan, 60, from Raigarh and the investigation is underway.

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