State ensures job security of 3K firefighters

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has ensured job security for 3,000 odd auxiliary fire operators in the state by extending their service tenure upto 60 years.

They will also get Rs 3 lakhs as retirement benefit and an increase of salary by Rs 2,000 every year.

"Fire services is an emergency service and the auxiliary fire operators are an integral part of our fleet. But they suffered from a sense of insecurity in their job as they had to renew their contract on a yearly basis. I am grateful to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for extending their service upto 60 years. They will also be entitled to casual leave, medical leave etc," said Sujit Bose, state Fire and Emergency Services minister.

The women auxiliary fire operators will be entitled for maternity leave as per government norms.

Bose on Wednesday handed over Covid Warrior medals and certificates as a mark of honour to 51 firemen who have recovered from Corona and have been continuing to

serve his department. As many as 16 such fire fighters were earlier handed over medals and certificates.

About 200 firemen spread across 146 fire stations have been affected with Covid

till date.

Bose himself was affected with Covid but has recovered from the virus.

The state Fire and Emergency Services department has been using its fire tenders fitted with plunger type spray pumps for sanitisation of different public places across the state.

Sanitisation of major government buildings like Nabanna, New Secreteriat, state Asssembly, government hospitals, Calcutta High Court to name a few have been taken up time and again by the Fire department.