BMC announces Rs 33,000 Diwali bonus for staff, to be paid with salary on November 2

Ahead of Diwali, employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have received good news. Mayor Ritu Tawde announced a Diwali bonus of Rs 33,000 for them. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Wednesday, attended by administrative officials and representatives of employee unions.

Tawde said the BMC's education department has 93,509 employees and 2,360 teachers. She said the bonus was Rs 31,000 for 2024-25 and Rs 32,000 the year before. This year, keeping in mind the employees' demands and the present situation, the bonus was raised by Rs 1,000 to Rs 33,000.

The mayor said the decision was taken in view of the growing responsibility for development work in Mumbai and the employees' substantial contribution. Officials of the labour committee were present at the meeting. On behalf of the administration, Kishor Gandhi and Devidas Kshirsagar were present along with other officials.

The mayor said the employees had been demanding a higher bonus. After the present financial situation was discussed, all parties agreed to the proposal. She also said there is a tradition of raising the bonus by about Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 every year and that the employees' demands are reasonable.

She said Maharashtra is currently facing many difficulties, so a balanced decision was taken after considering all factors. According to the mayor, "If farmers are in distress, Mumbai too has a responsibility to understand its social responsibility." She made one more announcement: so that employees can celebrate Diwali well, both salary and bonus will be paid together on November 2.

On the poor quality of food served in BMC schools, the mayor said that if the allegations prove true, the NGO concerned should be suspended. She made it clear that there would be no compromise on children's health.

Asked about the quality of tablets given to students in schools, she said that if the tablets are of poor quality, the BMC commissioner should take the matter seriously. She said the scheme began during the previous coalition government's tenure and that she had raised questions about some aspects of the tablet distribution even then.

On the demand by ASHA volunteers for a bonus, the mayor said a delegation had met her. She will speak to the BMC commissioner on the subject and try to find a suitable solution in the interest of the workers.

Asked about the Congress, the mayor said people express their opinion through voting and that this is the greatest strength of democracy. She claimed that people's trust in a party is seen in elections.