Congress leader Ashraf Azmi alleges clash between BMC administration and Mayor over Diwali bonus

A dispute has erupted over the Diwali bonus for employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Congress group leader and corporator Ashraf Azmi alleges that the civic administration and the Mayor are in a confrontation over the matter. He says the administration had entered a bonus of Rs 31,000 in the employees' payroll system even before the Mayor's official announcement. He questioned the administration's way of working on this count. Azmi also alleged that the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena have no control over the civic administration.

According to Azmi, the corporation has a tradition to be followed before a bonus is fixed. The Mayor, group leaders of all parties, labour unions, officers' associations and the administration sit together and discuss it, and only then is the amount decided. He alleged that this time, before the Mayor's announcement, the administration recorded in the SAP system that a bonus of Rs 31,000 would be paid along with salaries.

He said the meeting had already been scheduled, and entering the amount in the system before it was a violation of the Mayor's powers. Azmi also demanded an inquiry into the matter and that responsibility be fixed.

A meeting of all group leaders was held in the Mayor's ante-chamber, after which the bonus amount was decided. Azmi said the Congress had demanded a bonus of Rs 35,000, but after discussion it was decided to give employees Rs 32,000. According to him, each employee's bonus has been raised by Rs 2,000, which will put an additional burden of about Rs 32 crore on the corporation.

Azmi also said it has been decided to raise the bonus for ASHA workers and health workers this time. Those who earlier received Rs 14,000 will now get Rs 16,000, and those who received Rs 5,000 will now get Rs 7,000.

Azmi said arbitrariness in the administration is growing and alleged that it does not listen to the Mayor. He said the administration and elected representatives are like two wheels of a cart, and only if both work together can the problems of Mumbaikars be resolved. He advised the Mayor and the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena to use their powers properly. According to him, if unilateral decisions are taken without taking the opposition into confidence, the ruling side itself may have to bear the loss.

Azmi said the BJP-Shiv Sena rulers have absolutely no control over the civic administration.