BMC told to promote safai karamchari pursuing PhD

On Wednesday, the Commission had its hearing with senior officials of the BMC on issues faced by safari karmacharis in the city. Lata Mahato, member of the Commission, took an update on Yadav and directed officials to ensure that in the current vacancies of Class III employees, Yadav be given a promotion as per his educational qualifications.

“We have directed them to give Yadav a job as a Class III employee for which vacancies are being filled currently. This is as per the recommendations made by the Lad-Page committee which states that safai karamcharis working as Class IV employees be given consideration when filling vacancies of Class III employees based on their educational qualifications,” Mahato told The Indian Express. Mahato has given directions to Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Vijay Balamwar, solid waste management, on this issue. Calls to Balamwar went unanswered.

This is not the first time that the Commission has directed the BMC to promote Yadav. In a meeting in November 2015 too similar instructions were given to be implemented in 15 days. No action has been taken by the BMC on it so far. His previous applications for the post of Labour and Welfare Officer at the BMC too have been disqualified citing that the MA in Globalisation and Labour course which he has completed is not registered.

Yadav said that after the direction by the Commission, he has not been informed about which post will be offered to him. “My struggle to be promoted was not because working as a safai karamchari is beyond my dignity or for the money. I want to work within the same department and work for the same community because I know the issues first-hand,” Yadav told The Indian Express.

With conservancy workers being predominantly from the Scheduled Caste, Yadav said that he is hopeful that his struggle may make it easier for others to seek similar opportunitY. But, before the promotion, Yadav hopes his study leave is granted. He is currently in the final stage of completing his PhD.

The Indian Express had reported last month that Yadav’s application for his entitled study leave has been pending before the BMC since 2014. He had sought the leave when he received admission in the MPhil-PhD course. This has resulted in a delay in completing his thesis. “I was to submit it on March 8,” Yadav said.

sadaf.modak@expressindia.com