For years, Madhubala’s salary went towards her children’s school and college fees, leaving little for herself. A single mother who has raised two sons alone for the last three years, she has spent two decades working as a domestic breeding checker (DBC) with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Now, after years of demanding better pay, the 45-year-old hopes she can finally start saving a little.

The reason: On Friday, she received Rs 27,000 in her bank account, a change from the around Rs 17,000 she earned every month until September.

The increase follows the MCD’s decision to raise the minimum monthly salary of its public health workers to Rs 18,000, along with dearness allowance, under the principle of “equal pay for equal work”.

“I have been raising two sons alone since the last three years after I separated from my husband due to domestic abuse. I spent all my salary on my children’s school and college fees.…