Cash-strapped MCDs splurge RS 200 cr on ‘ghost’ sanitation workers

While the national Capital has turned into a dumping ground with the AAP-led Delhi government and BJP ruled-MCDs sparring over shortage of funds, a chunk of these surplus sanitation workers are eating into a big amount of MCDs budget. Corporation sources claim there is a huge nexus between ‘surplus’ sanitation staff and a few officials that is burning a hole in the pocket of the ailing civic bodies.

A detailed investigation revealed sordid state of affairs as how Corporations’ money is being wasted under the nose of top functionaries. The three Corporations have nearly 70,000 safaikarmis out of which nearly 55,000 are permanent while the remaining have been roped in as daily wage workers. Among the daily wagers, there are three types of employees — contractual, substitute and sub-substitute or awaijdar in MCD language. As per the Corporations’ norms, regular and contractual staff look after sanitation works. But when regular employees go on weekly offs/leaves, substitutes and sub-substitutes fill in.

As all MCD staff give thumb impressions to mark their attendance especially after ghost employees’ issue, substitutes and sub-substitutes also follow the same.

Investigation reveals that these daily wage staff, after working for a few months/years, want their elevation from one rank to another and a nexus with the regular staff, local officials and area councillor assist them accordingly. 

“In majority of areas, regular employees takes sufficient numbers of leaves to accommodate daily wagers. Once the daily wagers register entry properly, he/she moves for promotion/elevation. As such workers, in association with MCD’s permanent staff, take unfair advantage of Corporations’ loopholes, they get their elevation easily.

“Temporary staff, eyeing induction in permanent fold, register attendance and get induction through unfair means. A temporary staff is liable to draw money less than Rs 15,000 a month but after promotion as permanent staff he/she draws a CTC of up to Rs 35,000 per month which is a huge dent in MCDs’ exchequer. In this process  of induction, new daily wagers fill up the spaces left vacant after promoting the earlier ones. In such circumstances, the Corporations pay nearly Rs 200 crore to permanent staff per month and simultaneously release crores of rupees to temporary staff which is a king of pilferage of MCDs’ money,” said a senior Councillor from one of the civic agencies. 

Additionally, the three MCDs have divided their area into beats and each beat comprises nearly half-kilometre area. A total of three regular staff and at least one contractual staff look after sanitation works of one beat. Notably, every individual worker has 8-hours’ duty. Thus, the MCDs are paying for a total of 32 hours’ of work for one beat which can easily be cut down to 16 hours’ work.

“Though the Corporations have deputed three to four staff for one beat while just one or two can manage the entire affair during eight-hours’ duty. When the agencies are reeling under financial crisis, Corporations must depute such ‘surplus’ staff to other fields and should minimise duties of daily wagers by unearthing their nefarious business,” said another senior Councillor pleading anonymity.