Strike against handover of Huda sectors called off

Gurgaon: Protesting Huda employees ended their week-long relay hunger strike on Tuesday after getting assurances from the chief minister regarding their demands. Though they returned to work, they have threatened to strike again if the state government backtracks on its promises.
They government accepted most of their demands, including that of not transferring staff and unfinished sectors to MCG."We ended our strike on the assurance of CM Manohar Lal Khattar," said Ramnivas Thakran of Huda Karamchari Ekta Union, adding that the CM has assured them that sectors that are not completely developed will not be handed over to MCG. Besides, only some critically important employees will be sent to MCG on deputation for three years, and not transferred as proposed earlier. Earlier, all sectors had been proposed to be handed over to MCG and local bodies of other cities, along with the employees engaged in the maintenance of water supply, sewerage, drainage, streetlights and roads in those sectors.
Around 188 sectors in cities across the state were supposed to be handed over to respective local bodies this month. "Of these, 78 sectors are not developed completely," said Balwan Singh, the secretary of Huda Employees Union, adding the union had submitted a list of sectors with less than 20-30% of houses ready with the government. He said in Gurgaon, less than 30% development has been completed in sectors like 9, 9A, 10, 27, 28, 37 (C, D and E), 38, 42, 43, 45, 46, 51, 52, 55 and 57.
He said the CM has assured Huda employees will continue working with the urban development body, while local bodies will hire new contractual employees for maintenance of those sectors that will be transferred immediately. "MCG, for example, , for example, has lots of contractual employees, and can hire few more," said Singh.
Thakran said they expect a letter from the government soon, acknowledging the acceptance of their demands. "The CM has given verbal direction. It will take a few days to put these things in writing," said Thakran, adding Huda employees will again meet on May 12 to decide their future course of action. If the state government was found to backtrack on any of their promises, they will start demonstrations again.
The state government also reassured protesters that Huda will launch 20 new sectors across cities in the state, including 11 in Gurgaon division, besides places like Rewari, Bhiwani, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Sonipat. "This way, Huda will earn good money selling plots which will help it tide over its current financial crisis," said Vijay Kumar of Huda Employees Union.
Huda administrator Hardeep Singh said most of the demands of the protesting employees have been accepted by the state government. "We'll soon start a survey to take stock of the status of development in all sectors identified as unfinished."