Nagpur: With no provision for a Diwali bonus, civic employees traditionally take an advance which is later deducted from their salaries in equal instalments. Amid this, the NMC administration has issued a circular to deduct one day’s salary of its employees and officers for drought relief, citing a state govt circular.
The move, though optional, has triggered resentment among the civic staff, who were expecting their 15 months of dearness allowance (DA) arrears ahead of the festival. Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar issued the circular on Oct 21, appealing to NMC employees and officers to contribute one day’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to compensate farmers for losses due to drought. The memorandum of demands could not be submitted due to the code of conduct,” said Surendra Tingne, president, Rashtriya Nagpur Corporation Employees Association, Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
No orders have been issued by the administration regarding the DA payment so far. Along with the circular, an objection form has also been issued, stating that employees who do not wish to contribute can fill the form and submit it to their department head. “The proposal to deposit one day’s salary in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is voluntary. If any employee does not want the salary to be deducted, he will have to fill up a form. There is no objection to helping, but the deduction should not be made from the salary for the month of October amid the festivals. We will soon meet the commissioner regarding the demand for payment of DA and 7th Pay Commission arrears.