GMC Mayor says ₹9 crore has been received and pension will be released soon
The Guwahati Municipal Karmi Sangha (GMKS), the union representing the workers of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), has announced an indefinite strike starting December 26.
The strike will involve all members of the Sangha, and services provided by the GMC are expected to be severely disrupted.
The strike comes in response to years of unresolved issues that have left employees disillusioned with the city's authorities. From irregular pensions to unfulfilled promises of improved pay for daily wage and contractual workers, GMKS has highlighted a series of grievances that have been neglected by the GMC administration.
The GMC, however, said it has received some funds and will release the pension money.
Irregular Pensions
One of the primary issues is the persistent delay in pension disbursements for retired employees. Workers who have spent decades serving the municipality are now facing severe financial difficulties due to the failure of the GMC to ensure timely and accurate pension payments. For many, this delay is not just an inconvenience, but a financial crisis, as they rely on these payments after years of dedicated service.
A member of the GMKS, who has been with the GMC for nine years, told GPlus, "It's been 9 years in the department, but I am underpaid, and my job is still not permanent. I have worked with dedication, but the authorities have failed to fulfill even the most basic commitments."
Non-Implementation of Revised Pay
Despite assurances from the GMC authorities, the promised Revised Pay for daily wage employees and contractual workers has not been implemented. A committee was set up by the Commissioner of GMC to oversee the implementation, with a report deadline set for October 3. However, the Additional Commissioner, who also heads the committee, has failed to process the report and move forward with the recommendations, without providing any clear justification.
This delay is especially galling for employees, as similar pay revisions were implemented in other government departments over a year ago. The committee’s inaction has added to the frustration of workers who feel their rights are being blatantly ignored.
Pending Promotions for Regular Employees
A backlog in promotions for regular employees has been allowed to persist for years, despite workers meeting all criteria for advancement. The resulting stagnation has caused considerable frustration, with employees seeing no prospects for career growth or increased benefits. The lack of promotions has further demoralised the workforce, as they feel their dedication and hard work are going unrecognised.
Discrepancy in Funding Priorities
Another major point of contention is the GMC's allocation of funds. The GMKS has pointed out the stark contrast between the easy allocation of funds for officers' personal luxuries—such as vehicle fuel and transportation—and the repeated claims of a "funding crisis" when it comes to employee welfare. The union argues that while significant sums are spent on non-essential expenditures for officials, basic issues like pensions, revised pay, and promotions for workers are ignored. This stark disparity has deepened the sense of injustice among the workers.
When approached for a comment, Mrigen Sarania, the Mayor of GMC, told GPlus, "When we receive funds from the government, we immediately release the money. Recently, we received 9 crores, and we will distribute the pension money."