AMC wants no ‘compassionate’ ground

The proposal has come from the municipal commissioner who has invoked a Government Resolution of July 5,2011 (No 102009-1651 K) of the General Administration Department as the basis for it. The proposal,if and when passed,will be implemented subject to periodic changes in the state government orders and policies.

Amid stiff resistance from the Opposition members,the resolution was not passed but was kept in abeyance for further consideration and discussion.

According to the August 5 proposal brought by the municipal commissioner,the new policy will be applied in the case of all Class three and four employees of the AMC,except for safai workers and those in the solid waste management department.

The proposal says that one-time payment of Rs 6 lakh could be made to the kin of an employee who dies after completing more than 20 years of service in the AMC. Kin of those who complete more than 10 years but less than 20 years in service will be paid Rs five lakh as monetary assistance whereas kin of those dying in service before completing 10 years in service will be eligible to get Rs 4 lakh.

The Congress has opposed the proposal,saying there has to be a uniform policy for all the employees without any discrimination and all of them should be given jobs on compassionate grounds. “If money will be disbursed like this,relatives of the deceased employees may squander it away in a short time in the absence of financial wisdom and proper guidance,” said Opposition member Surendra Baxi,while admitting that since the proposal originated from the state government,it was bound to be implemented sooner or later but it would have to be opposed till the end.

Mayor Asit Vora said there was no escaping implementation of the proposal because it was from the state government and was directed to all municipal bodies. He agreed that the money so received might be spent in no time because of no provision of issuing Bonds in place of cash. “There is the chance of money being squandered but let us hope the state government will come out with some scheme to prevent this from happening,” Vora said.