Ludhiana: 88 ghost employees made it to list for regularisation

LUDHIANA: As many as 88 sanitation employees (28 sewer cleaners and 60 sweepers) turned out to be ghost employees whose names were included in the list of staff supposed to be regularised in the Ludhiana municipal corporation.
A new list of employees will be put up before the MC general house meeting on October 4 after verification. The officials claimed that they have served show-cause notices to establishment clerks and incharge for clarification as to why they provided the list without verification.

The councillors claimed that they are still cross-checking the list and will take up the issue in the meeting if they find anything suspicious.
In the MC general house meeting on July 25, a list of sanitation employees (sweepers and sewer cleaners) was placed before councillors who had raised a hue and cry claiming that ghost employees were included in the list. While authorities decided to verify the details, they also marked an inquiry to MC joint commissioner Ankur Mahindroo.
In his report, the joint commissioner admitted that some employees were either dead or were not present during the verification process. The verification also brought out the fact that 38 sewer cleaners were not included in the previous list.
A few employees also face a hurdle over eligibility due to upper age limit (42). In view of this issue, the members will put up a resolution in the house meeting saying these employees should not be rejected on the basis of this criteria.
Gurpreet Gopi, a Congress councillor from ward 94, said, "I am checking and verifying the list of employees and those who are actually working here in the ward. After verification I can say whether the fresh report is correct or not."