No headway in arrears talks

Nearly 12,000 employees had threatened to go on strike from October 14 if the VMC fails to give part of the arrears before Diwali.Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria told Express Newsline that the VMC could pay Rs 1,000 to the employees initially. Ad hoc payments for the pensioners is also being worked out.

Aloria said Rs 1.25 crore were in balance as against the allocation of Rs 5 crore in the budget for 1998-99 for payment of arrears, the administration could give the balance amount without going to the Standing Committee. In case of more amount, Standing Committee’s approval is required.

Few months ago, the VMC had paid Rs 3.75 crore to the employees as 25 per cent of arrears. The civic chief is optimistic that a solution would be brought about in Saturday’s meeting. Mayor Bharati Vyas and her fellow office-bearers also met to bring about a solution about the matter.

Mother Safety: AS part of the “Maa raksha mahotsava” a series of programmes will be jointly organised by the VMC, SSG Hospital, Health Department, ESI Hospital and family planning bureau of the city for six days beginning Thursday.

To create AIDS awareness, a demon will be burnt in effigy at the Polo Ground on Thursday at 7 p.m.

On Friday and Saturday, health check-up camps will be organised for women and children at VMC family planning centres. This will be followed by a refresher training workshop for trained mid-wives on Sunday and Monday. The workshop will be held at the Sardar Patel Planetarium.

On the last day, October 6, a seminar on HIV, AIDS and welfare of mother and children will be held for civic para-medical staff. An exhibition on AIDS awareness will also be held at the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Gruh on October 6.