JOIN USMCDs fail to give uniforms to workers
The three municipal corporations have not provided uniforms to sanitation workers – and other class-IV employees – since 2010. And that too was after a long gap, since 2003.
Though the corporations earmark crores of rupees in each year’s budget for uniforms, they drag their feet in actually procuring and distributing uniforms to the class-IV employees, who include drivers and gardeners.
The blue uniform comprises trousers and a shirt for men and a suit with dupatta for women. In winter the workers are to be given a pullover too.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation allocated around Rs 16 crore for uniforms in the financial year 2014-15, while the North Delhi Municipal Corporation earmarked over Rs 12 crore from 2012 to 2014. The South Corporation had allocated about Rs 18 crore for 2013-14 and around Rs 10 crore for 2012-13.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation is planning to give Rs 2,100 to each worker and has earmarked over Rs 2 crore for 2014-15. The East civic agency has around 15,000 class-IV employees, while the South Corporation has around 17,000.
MCD Karamchari Union wrote to South Corporation in March on the issue. “Sanitation workers have not got uniforms since 1996,” claimed Vinod Sinidi, the union general secretary.
The corporations indicate they are makiing amends this year.
The North Corporation has floated a tender to purchase winter uniforms for around 39,000 class-IV employees. “The distribution of uniforms will most likely start within a couple of months,” said an official with the North Corporation labour department.
The South Corporation said it will start supplying uniforms by May-end. “Hopefully we will be distributing uniforms by May 20,” said its Commissioner Manish Gupta.
The South civic agency said it is adopting a hi-tech distribution system. The packets containing the uniform will have bar code and employees will get them after their attendance is verified through the biometric system. “We will start it with west zone, but it will be done after model code of conduct is lifted,” said the South spokesperson.
The civic agency said it has also taken up regularisation of daily wage employees.
“We are ensuring that the first charge on municipal fund is salary of our employees and that too is paid on time. We have computerised the pay bill system so that their renumeration is professionally managed,” said Gupta.
The class-IV employees have never got the uniform regularly. “Around Rs 2 crore had been allocated from 2008-2010. And before that the employess got uniforms in 2003 and prior to that in 2001,” said the North Corporation official.