Today (April 10) is the second day of the two-day statewide strike of fire department (fire brigade) employees in Haryana. In Gurugram too, firemen are leaving work and sitting on strike demanding justice for the two firemen who lost their lives while on duty in Faridabad and other demands. The talks held at the officials and ministerial level on the first day were inconclusive (failed), after which the strike of the employees continues for the second day today.
What are the main demands of the fire employees?
About two months ago, two firefighters died tragically while extinguishing a massive fire in Faridabad. The employees of the department are angry over this incident. Their main demands are as follows:
- Martyr status: Both the fire personnel who lost their lives while on duty should be given ‘martyr’ status.
- Financial help and job: An honorarium (grant) of Rs 1 crore each should be given to the dependents of the deceased and a government job should be given to one member of the family.
- Raw employees should be confirmed: Raw employees working in the fire department for a long time should be immediately regularized on the vacant posts in the department.
‘If demands are not met, we will go on indefinite strike’
District head of fire department Sound Khan and Lakhbir Yadav of Bhim Nagar fire station, who are leading the protest, made it clear in their byte that they are fighting for the rights of their martyred comrades. He has warned that if the government does not accept their demands even after two days of this statewide strike, then the firemen of the entire state will go on ‘indefinite strike’.
Serious questions raised on the security of the city
This strike of firemen has left the security system of the entire state and especially a big city like Gurugram at its mercy. It is fortunate that no major incident of arson was reported in these two days. But the biggest question is that if vehicles are parked at the fire stations and the employees are on strike, then who will go to extinguish the fire in an emergency? If an indefinite strike begins and a major accident occurs, who will be responsible for the loss of life and property?