Dept inquiry starts into 44 absent sanitary workers

Nagpur: Some 44 sanitary workers have been absent without any intimation to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for last six months to two years or more, and escaped action. On municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s directives, the NMC administration has suspended two workers and started departmental inquiry against all 44 workers.
Additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi has started a departmental inquiry against the 44 sanitary workers in last one week.
NMC sources told TOI the administration has avoided suspending the sanitary workers. “Initially, Joshi suspended two sanitary workers for not coming on duty for long period without any application, seeking medical leave or any other permissible leave. But course of action was changed, as suspension will cause financial loss to civic body. Currently, all 44 sanitary workers are not getting payment. NMC will have to pay 50% salary if it suspends the sanitary worker. Salary increases to 75% if suspension remains in effect for over six months. Therefore, departmental inquiry has been started,” sources said.
As per norms, NMC has to issue show cause notice to workers who are absent without intimation, followed by suspension or departmental inquiry, and dismissal. But zone offices only issue show cause notice and never undertook further action.
Mundhe came to know about this in the review meeting of heads of departments. Mundhe took it seriously and directed officials to initiate appropriate action. Accordingly, health officer (sanitation) Dr Pradeep Dasarwar directed zone offices to submit list of sanitary workers on leave without intimation or approval from concerned head of the department.
Sources added it is a practice at NMC, especially in health department, that employees go on leave as per their wish and join back as per their convenience citing medical reasons. No action has been taken against such employees in the past.
TOI had, on Monday, reported NMC was maintaining 366 surplus teachers and paying over Rs22 crore per annum for last over six years. Now, the education department has started process to transfer them to state’s education department after Mundhe’s directives.