Protest against low remuneration

 They had expected the same remuneration that they received last year during the Lok Sabha elections.

In the Lok Sabha elections last year, the Government staff had received Rs 1,400 for a presiding officer (PRO); Rs 1,150 for Assistant PRO; and Rs 975 for Polling officers. But now in the BBMP elections, the amount has come down to Rs 1,100; Rs 800 and Rs 625,
respectively.

M G Prakash, a school master from Magadi said for the amount of work they do, the money is too less. “Besides, BBMP has not even arranged for proper transportation to reach the polling booths,” he said. 

Loopholes in order

The BBMP office had issued a letter appointing the polling officer where the personnel were asked to reach Chinmaya Vidyalaya located at 10th block, Koramangala. But in reality, there is no 10th block in Koramangala. 

Another polling officer Lingaraj said materials required for polling is not according to the check list. “There are no proper facilities here. We need to struggle even for drinking water,” he said. 

The Government staffers have come from Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura and surrounding areas on polling duty.

BBMP officials in their defence state that the discrepancy in the remunerations were on account of the training periods scheduled for the local body elections in comparison to the Lok Sabha elections. Towards Saturday evening the matter was resolved in a compromise with the BBMP ready to pay the conveyance to the polling staff.

Officials state that the first duty is towards the citizens and then towards the officials.