Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Employees Protest New Attendance Verification Directive
Tensions escalated significantly at the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation headquarters on Tuesday as employee unions staged a strong protest against a newly implemented policy. The contentious directive requires city councillors to verify worker attendance before salaries can be processed and released.
Union Demands and Grievances Presented to Authorities
The Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee held a crucial meeting with Mayor Inderjit Kaur and Commissioner Neeru Katyal at the Zone-D office. Union representatives expressed serious concerns that the attendance verification policy would lead to exploitation and unnecessary delays in payroll processing, creating administrative bottlenecks.
During the meeting, the committee presented a comprehensive list of grievances focusing primarily on job security and administrative oversight. The key demands included:
- Continuation of fogging services without privatization
- Contractual shifts and regularization of temporary employees
- Management takeover of Ambedkar Bhawan venue
- Direct municipal contracts for outsourced staff
Specific Concerns About Privatization and Employment
Union members voiced strong opposition to the MC's proposed plan to privatize fogging operations. They argued this move would render approximately 150 operators and tractor drivers unemployed, severely impacting livelihoods and municipal services.
The union specifically requested that 110 outsourced employees—including data entry operators, junior engineers, and subdivisional officers—be transitioned to direct municipal contracts. Additionally, they called for the regularization of the remaining 456 Class-IV employees to align with previous departmental hiring practices.
Financial Concerns Over Ambedkar Bhawan Management
The committee urged the Municipal Corporation to assume direct control of Ambedkar Bhawan, alleging that private individuals are currently collecting booking fees for weddings and events. This arrangement, according to union representatives, results in significant financial losses for the city that could otherwise benefit municipal resources.
Officials assured the union delegation that their demands would undergo thorough review to determine whether they could be resolved at the local level or required intervention from the state government.
Sanitation Directives Issued Amid Union Negotiations
While union negotiations proceeded inside the MC headquarters, Mayor Inderjit Kaur and Commissioner Neeru Katyal issued stern directives to the health branch to improve city-wide sanitation standards. This move followed recent embarrassment during a high-profile visit that highlighted sanitation deficiencies.
Disciplinary Action Taken Over Sanitation Lapses
A sanitary supervisor has been suspended following hygiene lapses discovered during Punjab Chief Minister's visit on January 8. Show-cause notices were also issued to a sanitary inspector and chief sanitary inspector after the Jagraon Bridge and Damoria Bridge areas were found in poor condition during the oath-taking ceremony for zila parishad members.
Sewage Treatment Plant Audit Ordered
In a separate coordination meeting with MLAs Ashok Prashar Pappi and Madan Lal Bagga, MC Commissioner Neeru Katyal ordered an immediate audit of the city's sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. The commissioner emphasized that proper waste disposal and regular sewer cleaning are non-negotiable municipal responsibilities.
Commissioner Katyal warned that strict action would be taken against officials if waste disposal systems failed to function at full capacity, underscoring the administration's commitment to improving Ludhiana's sanitation infrastructure.
