Ludhiana MC House approved resolution for regularisation of employees, but list to be revised

The Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) House on Monday approved the resolution for regularisation of contractual employees.

However, it was decided that the list of employees being regularised be revised and tabled for approval again, after some councillors alleged that names of staffers who are dead or absent from duty for a prolonged period of time have also been included for regularisation. MC officials were directed to prepare the revised list with a week.

The approved resolution will then be forward to the state government for its nod.

The list which was presented on Monday had 3,593 names, including 1,104 sewermen and 2,489 sweepers working at DC rate. Councillors questioned how the number of employees to be regularised increased from 2,517 in the last House meeting held in December to 3,593.

The alleged discrepancy was highlighted by leader of Opposition in MC House and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor Jaspal Giaspura, who said that councillors were not consulted while preparing the list. “Even names of two dead employees from the ward of senior deputy mayor Sham Sundar Malhotra are on the list and many of those who have been replaced by MC for being absent from duty have also been included,” said Giaspura.

Congress councillor Mamta Ashu further stated that the House had formed a committee of councillors and MC officials for finalising the list of employees in December last year. “But, the panel was not even apprised of the finalised list,” said Ashu.

“ An underage employee has also been mentioned in the list and 10 employees working in my ward since 1998 have been included in the list. Details of employees including their aadhar number or mobile number have been mentioned in the list,” she added.

LIP councillor (ward number 36), Harvinder Kaler, said names of 24 employees who have never worked in his ward have been mentioned in the list.

Meanwhile Lok Insaaf party (LIP) councillor Swarandeep Chahal and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors also demanded that the employees working with MC since March 31, 2022, be regularised, while the current cut-off date is June 18, 2021.

Inquiry to conclude within week: MC commissioner

Mayor Balkar Sandhu and MC commissioner Shena Aggarwal ordered an inquiry into the matter and stated that the it will conclude within a week. Further, they directed to revise the list within a week after consulting committee members and councillors.

394 gardeners , drivers should also be regularised: councillors

During the meeting, councillors also demanded that the 394 gardeners, drivers etc, who have also been working with the civic body for decades, be regularised and their names be included in the list. MC employees’ union led by chairman Ashwani Sahota submitted a memorandum regarding the same with Sandhu.

Before the House meet, Sandhu had conducted meeting with councillors of all parties and decided that there will no Zero Hour. It was also decided that another House meeting will be held next week to discuss problems being faced by councillors and residents.

Councillors, MLAs get into credit war

Soon after the House meeting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and councillors of various parties joined the MC employees who were celebrating outside the civic body’s Zone-A office where the meeting was held.

With the aim to woo the employees ahead of the municipal elections, leaders of all parties tried to take credit for the resolution getting approved.

While AAP MLAs including Madan Lal Bagga, Gurpreet Gogi, Ashok Prashar Pappi and Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal said the employees are being regularised only after their party came into power in the state, Congress councillors said the resolution was initially approved by the previous government and an amended one was approved on Monday, as there were some technical problems in the previous one.

During the house meeting, Mayor Balkar Sandhu also highlighted that the resolution was initially approved by the previous Congress government.

Meanwhile, BJP and SAD councillors said the employees have been regularised as a result of them raising agitations over the issue in the past.

A historic decision, say MC employees

Members of the Municipal Corporation Sewermen/Safai Karamchari Sangharsh Committee termed the decision as historic, stating that contractual employees working with MC since 1992 have also been regularised.

Chairman of the union, Vijay Danav and president Yashpal Chaudhary said this is a big victory for the employees who have been struggling for a long period.

MLA Gurpreet Gogi also danced along with the contractual employees celebrating outside MC office.