- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A massive protest by factory workers in Noida's industrial area on Monday turned violent. The workers, who began their protest on Friday, demanding a monthly salary increase from Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000, resorted to violence in several locations. Incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism, and torching of vehicles were reported.
The appeal of Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate before the violence proved insufficient. On Sunday, just a day before the protests turned violent, DM Medha Rupam appealed to workers to maintain peace. She explained that she had held several meetings with factory owners over the past two to three days to maintain industrial peace.
Despite her assurance, the situation worsened today. This incident has once again brought DM Medha Rupam into the spotlight.
It is alleged that she failed to take adequate action before the violence erupted. It is worth noting that questions were also raised about her in the case of an engineer who drowned in a pit.
Who is Noida DM Medha Rupam?
Medha Rupam is a 2014 batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. She is the daughter of the country's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in Economics from the prestigious St. Stephen's College, Delhi University.
She secured an All India Rank of 10 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2013. She has been serving as the DM of Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) since July 29, 2025. Before this, she held important positions in various districts, including Meerut and Baghpat.
DM Medha Rupam's big announcement for labourers
Following the violent protests, Rupam made several important announcements in favour of the workers. Factory workers will now be paid double overtime and granted a mandatory one-day weekly off.
If work is done on Sundays, double wages will be paid for that day as well. All workers' bonuses will be paid into their bank accounts by November 30, as per regulations. Furthermore, instructions have been given to establish a sexual harassment prevention committee with a female chairperson in every factory.
Complaint boxes will be installed in units, and workers will be treated with respect. It will be mandatory for every worker to have their full salary deposited into their bank account by the 10th of every month. It will also be mandatory to provide each worker with a salary slip.