Kin of 33 Pune Municipal Corporation employees wait for promised aid

PUNE: The families of 33 civic staffers, who lost their lives while on Covid-19 duties, have so far not received any of the Rs 50 lakh each financial help promised by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The civic body had declared the amount to the dependants of the deceased staffers.
A total of 47 employees lost their lives during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. But only 15 dependants got the financial aid that too only half of the promised amount.
The final approval from the general body is pending which is causing a delay in providing the help.
PMC officials said the staff members were working at the civic hospitals, ambulances and flu centres.
Around 16,000 people are directly or indirectly working in the mitigation of the pandemic.
Along with the PMC employees, workers have been taken on contracts for the effort.
PMC in its scheme had also given an option of providing jobs to one of the family members of the deceased. If the job option is sought, the financial aid was reduced.
“The staff members are coming in direct contact with patients. As part of their duty, they carried out visits in containment zones too,” an official said.
Over 900 teams were formed for the door-to-door survey of positive patients. The teams include health officials, teachers, conservancy staff.
“We have given the aid to some beneficiaries. The standing committee has approved the proposal. The future process to complete the formalities of approval from the GB is underway. Once complete, the disbursement of the aid will be carried out,” Shivaji Daundkar, head of PMC’s labour department, said.
“We are in favour of giving the financial aid. Steps for the approvals have already been taken,” Ganesh Bidkar, leader of house in PMC, said.
(With inputs from Piyush Bhusari)