MAPUSA
After a heated debate, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Monday decided to seek legal opinion on the civic workers’ charter of demands which is expected to add to the burden on the already depleting finances of the civic body.
Most of the councillors were of the opinion that the civic workers have had a handsome increase in their remuneration after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
They also said that the employees were not entitled to allowances over and above the salaries they were drawing.
According to the Standing Committee of the MMC, which recommends decisions on financial matters, the charter of demand has been increasing periodically in spite of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission in 2016.
“The charter of demand not only levy a heavy financial burden on the council but also have no parameters to quantify the increase in allowance/demand. The members are also not aware as to whether such demands are required to be fulfilled in view of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission,” said Shubanghi Vaigankar, who is the de facto chairperson of the Standing Committee.
Vice Chairperson, Chandrashekar Benkar and councillors, Sushant Harmalkar, Shashank Narvekar and Tarak Arolkar are the remaining four members appointed to the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee unanimously decided to consider the charter of demand or any other allowance only after obtaining two reports – whether all the employees who have been included in the 7th Pay Commission are eligible for allowance and the comparison between total expenditure (salary and allowances) prior to 2016 and after implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
During the discussion in the ordinary council meeting, the Councillor of Ward 5, Shashank Narvekar castigated the ruling group for failing to follow his earlier suggestion to seek legal opinion in the matter.
“We need to find what will be the financial implication on the council. After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, the salaries of the civic staff have gone up from Rs 15,000 to Rs 45,000. In fact, we have to withdraw all the allowances given to them,” Narvekar said.
Ward 20 Councillor Prakash Bhivshet blamed the chairperson for creating a mess on the charter of demands by first accepting the demands without studying the matter and following proper procedure.
“Why are you bluffing the people of Mapusa? You are now trying to hide your fault by sending the charter of demand for legal opinion,” Bhivshet said.
After an intense debate among the councillors, it was later unanimously resolved to send the charter of demand for legal opinion.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira also attended the council meeting on Monday.
Civic association takes cautious standMAPUSA: The President of All Goa Municipal Employees Association, Keshav Prabhu said that the staff of the Mapusa municipality will not take any proactive decision on the strike call as the matter on the charter of demands was coming up for discussion before the Labour Commissioner soon.
“Let them seek legal opinion. Our matter is coming for discussion before the Labour Commissioner on November 3. Until then we will not take any decision on the strike call,” Prabhu said.
The Mapusa civic staff which had gone on a day’s strike on October 21 had temporarily called off the strike pending a decision on their charter of demands which was to come up before the council on October 31.
