LMC bashing by jobseekers yields laddoos!

SAFAI RECRUITS literally went home flashing a V-sign! And why not? Their bashing of LMC officials on Tuesday yielded laddoos on Wednesday!

But, not before they were asked to test run 400 metres! But, this has left a bitter taste in some LMC officials’ mouth—beaten by jobseekers and hurt by the boss!

Against their expectations, the jobseekers received a great welcome with a glass of water as soon as they reached the physical test site. Just one bashing of Nagar Swasthya Adhikari and Zonal Health Officer inside their office by the safai recruits has forced the Lucknow Municipal Corporation bosses to change the process of physical tests.

Today due to fear of leaders of the safai workers’ community, LMC bosses decided not to make the recruits clean the nullah but made them run 400 metres. Not only that all the 72 recruits who assembled for the physical test were offered laddoos after the run, every candidate was offered a glass of water when he reached the test site at Lakshman mela ground. “The change in selection process has been due to the pressure of leaders of safai workers. They had threatened a stir if their demands were not met,” said an official of LMC on the condition of anonymity.

But, the officials of the Health Department are more in pain than shock, as the new boss hasn’t not bothered to lodge an FIR against the culprits.

“We are from the PMS cadre. We have come here for consultancy. But, if we are treated like this, then we will have to take the matter to our association. It’s the duty of the LMC administration to lodge an FIR against the culprits who have bashed up our senior most official,” says another official of the Health Department.

Nagar Swasthya Adhikari BBS Rathore says, “I have given all the reports to municipal commissioner. It’s now up to him to decide whether the FIR should be lodged or not. If the incident would have taken outside the office then I would have dealt with the attackers accordingly. But in office we have to follow the set procedure.” Additional municipal commissioner AC Sinha says, “Why should municipal commissioner lodge an FIR? The victims themselves should do so.”

Regarding the change in the selection pattern he says, “It’s not fair to make anyone clean nullah for 8 hours. We have changed the process of physical fitness and allowed only 400 metre run. After that we shall also provide some refreshment to the candidates.”

Meanwhile, senior officials of the Health Department and the LMC chief were summoned by the urban development minister over the yesterday’s issue. They were allegedly given a dressing-down by the minister for not managing the selection process in a proper way.

Many safai recruits who were forced to clean the nullah by the LMC official previously are planning to challenge the process of physical test by the LMC officials. The selection process must be uniform for all the candidates said one of the candidate. The change in the selection process means the people with lesser abilities would be able to get the green signal for the selection.