PUNE, Sept 22: The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation today approved the payment of 8.33 per cent bonus and Rs 2,750 ex-gratia to 15,000 employees, as per the agreement with the PMC employees' union.Standing committee chairman Ramesh Bodke told reporters that as per three-year agreement with the employees' union last year the proposal to pay them Rs 2,750 this year was approved. As per the agreement an ex-gratia of Rs 2,550 was paid last year while for the third year (that is 1999-2000) the amount to be paid has been fixed at Rs 3000.A total amount of Rs eight crore was paid last year while an increase of Rs 1.90 crore is anticipated this year, Bodke said. The decision regarding payment of bonus and ex-gratia for the school board and Pune Municipal Transport employees will be taken at a special meeting on Friday, Bodke added.Meanwhile, the standing committee postponed the decision on the administration's proposal to hike the current rental charges for staging shows, ballets, drama and orchestra at the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir. Dramatists and theatre groups have requested a re-think on the issue and will meet the chairman in a couple of days after which the decision will be taken. The Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir which is run on a no-profit, no-loss basis however has incurred expenses and have to face hefty electricity bills. The proposed increase in rates include Rs 1,600 for staging magic shows, marathi song programme, tamasha, dance programmes and even conducting get-togethers on days excluding Saturday and Sundays where the charges have been proposed at Rs 1,850.
