BMC clerical staff protest by working

Prakash Devdas, the general secretary of the Municipal Karmachari Mahasangh, which over 80 per cent of the clerical staff belongs to, said the corporation should continue with its earlier system as it was convenient for employees residing in places far away from their offices.

He said, “Employees reside in places as far as Nashik. If Saturday is a half day, they will have to spend five to seven hours of travelling for duty that lasts only four hours.” This will in no way add to the efficiency of the corporation, he pointed out, adding that the clerical staff should be given respite on two Saturdays a month as their job is not of an emergency nature.

Deputy municipal commissioner in charge of personnel, S K Singh, however, maintained that the administration had decided to discontinue with the system as all the other departments functioned on Saturdays. He said the new system had been introduced on a trial basis, and it was found convenient as all BMC departments were linked.

Another official said practical problems arose when certain files which remained with some clerks were needed. “We have to wait for two days for them, ” he said, adding that all employees should work for half a day on Saturdays.

Singh informed that the administration had signed an agreement with the MKS in September last year agreeing that the system would be tried out for a year, and if found practical, would be implemented. “As the term of the agreement ended on September 30 and we do not wish to continue with it, all the employees will work on all Saturdays,” said Singh. He said before discontinuing the system, the administration held a meeting with group leaders in the corporation.

He claimed that group leaders were also of the opinion that the clerical staff should work on Saturdays, otherwise a communication gap was created between corporators and the staff.