NEW DELHI: With the authorities failing to address the issue of piled-up garbage in east Delhi residents have decided to switch to the selfie mode to highlight their plight.A joint front of East Delhi residents’ welfare associations on Saturday started a ‘selfie with garbage’ campaign after certain sections of sanitation worker unions have been on strike for the past 17 days.“It has been 17 days since east Delhi’s streets have been swept and bins cleared,” said B S Vohra, who heads RWA Bhagidari Movement.“No solution is in sight. The corporation says it has no funds. The Delhi government says it has released funds.” The front has appealed to the public to “click a selfie (with uncleaned garbgae) and send it to us”.Within the first few hours, people from various localities have sent their photos with garbage heaps. The situation is particularly alarming in areas like Geeta Colony, Krishna Nagar, Dharampura, a few Vikas Marg markets, Kailash Nagar and Gandhi Nagar.The crisis is taking place at a time when a special swachhta fortnight, Swachhta hi Sewa, is being celebrated across the country. MCD Swachhta Karamchari Union has been on strike for payment of arrears, regularisation of contractual staff, and health and medical benefits.The corporation claims that it is facing an acute financial crunch as the Delhi government has refused to allocate funds as per the fourth Delhi Finance Commission’s recommendations despite an order from the high court.“On top of it, funds under various budgetary heads have been reduced to zero. Despite tall announcements in budget, not a single paisa has been released to the corporations,” said mayor Bipin Bihari. Sanjay Gahlot, the president of the union, said at least an administrative approval for regularisation should be given.“Money will come later but our right should be given. Safaikaramcharis working since 1998 have not been regularised.”The corporation has ruled out mass regularisation as it would lead to an additional burden of Rs 1,500 crore as arrears and Rs 250 crore annually as salary bills.Corporation commissioner Ranbir Singh said they had been talking to the protesting unions.