Diwali sans bonus for State Govt employees

Deshmukh said at a high level meeting convened by Finance Minister Jayant Patil on Tuesday that it was explained to the employees that owing to the resource crunch, it may not be possible for the government to pay either bonus or ex-gratia. “Since we have explained them our position, I think they will not take any extreme step. If we concede their demand, the additional burden will be Rs 390 crore,” Deshmukh said.

The Finance Minister had told the leaders of the employees that if their demand for bonus was conceded, then the government would have no alternative but to wind up its account with the Reserve Bank of India.

Employees, for their part, are shocked by the government’s attitude which they describe as indifferent. “After our meeting with the Finance Minister, we expected a positive decision. But now we are shocked. We will meet soon to chalk out a strategy against the government,” R G Karnik, leader of the Federations of the State Government Employees Associations said.

It was unfortunate that the Chief Minister linked the demand for bonus with the case filed against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. “These are two different issues. Deshmukh has conveniently mixed them for obvious reasons. This is not acceptable to the employees,” Karnik added.

Following a public interest litigation filed by former Chief Secretary D M Sukthankar, the Bombay High Court has asked the State Government to file an affidavit on payment of bonus to civic employees. Apparently, the court has asked as to why the government did not give specific directions to the BMC on payment of bonus or otherwise.

Meanwhile, a senior official said the government is unlikely to concede the demand of the employees on payment of bonus. Since the government is not a profit-making organisation, it will be improper for it to pay bonus or ex-gratia to its employees, the official added.