Aam Aadmi Party : Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced on X that the Delhi Government has resolved to deploy the CDVs for a duration of four months.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) appear to be engaged in a contest regarding the attribution of credit for the reinstatement of civil defence volunteers (CDVs) in Delhi.
The AAP has recently asserted that, in accordance with the commitments made by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP government has reinstated the CDVs for a duration of four months to address the issue of air pollution in the city. In his capacity as chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), LG Vinai Kumar Saxena has issued directives for the reinstatement of CDVs that were previously dismissed by Kejriwal.
“In a significant development for the previously terminated CDVs, who faced challenges under the administration of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last October, Delhi LG VK Saxena, in his capacity as Chairman of the DDMA, has issued directives for their re-engagement to address air pollution in the city over the forthcoming four months, commencing on 1st November 2024,” stated the LG office in a press release.
The LG office indicated that Saxena has also counseled Chief Minister Atishi and the administration to devise a well-defined scheme for the future engagement of the CDVs during this interim period. This recommendation is made to ensure that they are not misled once more and do not suffer a loss of livelihood over the next four months.
Saxena has additionally instructed the government to formulate a plan for the consistent involvement of these volunteers. The policy must encompass specifics regarding deployment, budget allocations, financial endorsements, and the establishment of positions, while also addressing reservation criteria for SC/ST/OBC/EWS. It should not merely serve as another media announcement, as advised by the LG to the Chief Minister, according to officials from the LG office.
In the interim, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj conveyed via X that the Delhi Government has resolved to implement the deployment of the CDVs for a duration of four months.
“The struggle of bus marshals have yielded positive results; Arvind Kejriwal ji has assured that he will restore employment to all.”
“They will now be engaged in employment aimed at combating pollution for a duration of four months,” he stated.
Bharadwaj asserted, “We shall not allow the BJP government at the Centre to find repose until they are reinstated as bus marshals.”
Approximately 10,000 CDVs were assigned as bus marshals within the Delhi Transport Corporation and Cluster buses, aimed at ensuring the safety of women and children during their travels on these vehicles. However, last year, the marshals were dismissed following an objection from the Finance department, which asserted that CDVs are intended to serve as volunteers during disasters, pandemics, or emergencies, receiving an honorarium, and should not be utilized as full-time employees.