89 of 410 sanitation workers absent in Nagpur civic body's surprise 6 am check
Nagpur Municipal Corporation's surprise inspection at attendance stands found 89 of 410 sanitation workers absent, with several supervisors late or missing.
Sanitation workers of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation were thrown into a panic on Wednesday. On the directions of Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar, the solid waste management department launched a simultaneous surprise inspection at 6 am in different parts of the city. Additional Commissioner Milind Meshram and Deputy Commissioners Rajesh Bhagat and Dr Gajendra Mahalle also reached the attendance stands along with the commissioner. As word reached the workers' mobile phones, many who were loitering elsewhere rushed to the attendance stands. Those who were already on leave without notice could not reach the stands by the time the officials arrived.
Of 410 sanitation workers checked, 89 were found absent. At several places, the sanitary inspectors and jamadars who supervise the workers also arrived late or were not present at all.
The highest absenteeism was at Pagalkhana Chowk, New Mankapur (Ward No. 10) in Mangalwari zone. Of 89 workers there, 29 were absent and 60 present. Sanitary inspector Ritesh Usarbase, who was responsible for supervision there, was also found absent. The civic administration has indicated that it will look seriously at the work of supervising officials as well as of the workers.
In Laxmi Nagar zone, at the attendance stand near the Hanuman temple at Ajni Chowk (Ward No. 16 A), only 14 of 26 workers were found and 8 were absent. At Trimurti Nagar Chowk (Ward No. 36) in the same zone, the situation was worse: 16 of 31 were absent and only 13 present. At Mate Chowk, 22 of 25 workers in Ward No. 37 (A) and 22 of 24 in Ward No. 37 (B) were present, so the position was comparatively better.
In Gandhibagh zone, 66 of 72 workers were present at the Unani dispensary attendance stand in Mominpura, but sanitary inspector Deepak Khare arrived at 6.36 am. At the stand in Khapekar Mohalla, 11 of 69 workers were absent, and sanitary inspector Govind Shetty arrived there at 6.20 am. The administration has taken this delay by officials seriously as well.
At the Trisharan Chowk stand in Dhantoli zone, 48 of 54 workers were present and 2 absent, but the jamadar posted there, Anoop Tambe, was not at the stand. At another stand in the same zone, 57 of 67 workers were present. Jamadar Subodh Meshram arrived there at 6.30 am and Ajay Tambe at 6.05 am. The administration has treated the officials' arrival after the fixed inspection time as serious.
After the inspection, Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Rajesh Bhagat submitted the full report to the municipal commissioner. The report proposes action against absent and late workers and officials. According to the proposal, sanitary inspectors and jamadars found absent without permission will face disciplinary action. A administrative fine of Rs 5,000 and a stern warning are proposed for inspectors and jamadars who arrive late.
For sanitation workers absent without permission, an administrative penalty of Rs 1,000 and a stern warning have been proposed. The administration said sanitation work is directly linked to the city's cleanliness and people's health, so it is essential that workers be present on time and that their work be monitored.
