Nuisance detection squad: Civic body fails to draw ex-servicemen for job

The initiative,launched by the PMC in 2000,had been highly successful as it managed to keep a check on nuisance elements by penalising them and ensuring discipline at public place. The squad had collected Rs one crore in a year through penalties.

The state government had recommended all civic bodies in the state to implement the NDS in their respective jurisdiction. The ex-servicemen in the NDS are to check littering,spitting,urinating,defecating,putting up unauthorised posters at public places or even dumping rubble on footpaths.

However,political interference and allegations that ex-servicement were misusing their power had been creating hurdles for NDS to continue.

After the political parties began insisting that their party workers should be allowed into NDS,the appointment of the squad members for six months term on contract basis were often delayed.

“The NDS was not functional for a while. Though we started the recruitment process recently,we got poor response from ex-servicemen,” said Ramesh Shelar,PMC chief security officer.

The PMC had advertised vacancies in 40 posts of supervisors and 350 assistants in the NDS with the condition that candidates should be less than 45 years of age,he said. “We received only 110 applications from ex-servicemen and of this,only 70 were elligible as per the age criteria. We would again seek applications from ex-servicemen and if the response continues to be poor,will have to look for personnel other than retired defence personnel.” The PMC offers a consolidate monthly remuneration of Rs 8,000 to supervisors and Rs 6,000 to assistants. “The poor response of ex-servicemen is due to the contractual nature of the job — of just six months — when other organisations employ them on either permanent basis or on a long term contract,” said Lt Col (retd) Shirish Karajgi,district sainik welfare officer.

The remuneration offered by the PMC is very less compared to that given in private companies,he said adding this is one of the main reason keeping the ex-servicemen from working for the PMC.