On 14 February 2024, all 96 workers at Hardayal Municipal Public Library (HMPL) got paid for five months’ work at an event in Delhi.
Located in the centre of Chandni Chowk, Delhi, HMPL is one of Delhi’s oldest public libraries, honouring the renowned revolutionary and freedom fighter Lala Hardayal, who lived in Old Delhi.
The employees of the library received a total payment for their salaries for five months in 2021. They had been protesting for nearly three years due to unpaid salaries. Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister, Delhi, assured them that the remaining salaries would be paid soon.
As members of the middle class, the Delhi government comprehends the difficulties of managing without a salary, facing expenses such as electricity, water bills, school fees, and medical treatment.
Expressing gratitude to Kejriwal for addressing their long-standing issues, library employees noted that despite the lack of salaries, they found relief in government policies, such as free bus services for women and subsidised electricity and water services.
However, the government acknowledged the library’s financial strain, advocating for government grants to address the issue comprehensively. Emphasising the urgency of the situation, the government has highlighted the necessity for a one-time grant to cover 30 months’ worth of unpaid salaries.
