Civic body employees protest non-payment of salaries

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 16

Though the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities claimed to have disbursed salaries of all the staff today, yet it seemed that non-arrangement of funds has stalled dues for September.

To show their resentment, MC employees protested outside the Zone A office today. The joint committee of the Municipal Karamchari Dal said they would be forced to celebrate black Diwali if the authorities failed to release salaries for September.

The Municipal Karamchari Joint Committee general secretary, Gurjit Singh Jagpal said, “Till now, no salary has been credited in accounts of employees. Giving assurances will serve no purpose unless we get salary.”

He said, “The authorities knew that there will be problem. They could have arranged funds. The last minute arrangement of funds has really dampened our spirits. Our families are asking us to go out for festival shopping, but we have no money.”

“Today, we had gathered outside the Zone A office in protest. We will continue to protest if salary is not paid by tomorrow,” added Jagpal.

The Class IV employees blamed the MC authorities for mismanagement. One of the workers said the Class I and II staff was not dependant on monthly salaries to celebrate festivals. “It is people like us, who are at the receiving end due to non-payment of salaries,” he added.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said funds were arranged and salary was being deposited in accounts of employees. “In next two days, we will clear the backlog. Salary for September will be disbursed,” he added.