Don’t worry, the MC move is only to check shirkers

Open House: Is sanitation staff opposition to gps-enabled watches justified?

Use CCTVs, WhatsApp to check location

Chandigarh has already an established network of CCTVs. All crossroad junctions have the live footage. Visual clips can be collected daily by the supervising authorities. The mobile GPS is more handy and trustworthy. Complainants can use these alternate systems to mark attendance. Instructions can be passed on by SMS or emails. Sector-wise WhatsApp group of workers with video attendance is a good solution. The UT MC has to be a bit more accommodative and prudent.

Rajpartap Singh, Zirakpur

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Talks across the table can help

The assertion of sanitation workers that watches are not good for their health and give wrong locations seems incorrect. The best way out is medical test for those complaining of health issues. The MC can also conduct random tests for checking location of workers wearing watches. The authorities should hold talks with sanitation workers across the table on the two issues. Ensure that workers wear watches so that the authorities have a better control over them.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Don’t tighten the noose on workers

Tightening the noose on employees to an extent that they suffocate isn’t fair at all. Full time watch on employees’ activities will certainly frustrate them resulting in decline in efficiency. Senior officials of the MC should visit various areas daily in the city to check the ongoing work. Unnecessary expenditure should not be incurred on providing such gadgets. Rather, this money should be used for honing skills of workers and for their welfare.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Support MC’s initiative

Residents are fed up of priva te garbage collectors as they charge arbitrarily from each floor, are absent frequently and allow stray dogs to trail them by feeding waste. They are also arrogant because of a strong coterie. We must support the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, but their method should include collection from bins. Sanitation workers should not expect residents to come and dispose of garbage in vehicles. Garbage can be collected on alternate days. Payment for garbage collection can be added in water bills for efficient management.

Col PS Gill (retd), Chandigarh

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Step taken without creating awareness

Though the Chandigarh MC’s move of introducing GPS-enabled watches for the field staff is laudable, the authorities have imposed it without creating awareness and apprising union leaders and workers of its benefits. At this stage, withdrawing it will not be in the interest of the MC as well as residents. The MC should start this venture in one sector where resistance from workers may be manageable. RWAs should also be consulted before asking workers to wear watches.

BS Dhillon, Mohali

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Sanitation poor in all sectors

Sanitation workers need GPS enabled watches as they do nothing rather than passing time while sitting together. The sanitation of every sector is in poor condition. Workers should be hired on contract basis. The MC should suspend workers if they don’t join duty. There are many unemployed, who can be given job.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon Chandigarh

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Implement decision to wear watches in toto

The menace of ghost employees/absenteeism is at its peak, which affects delivery of services and increases the cost of governance. Wearing GPS-enabled watches should be compulsory for all sanitation employees. It will ensure judicious use of taxpayers money. Change is always resisted, but the MCC should ensure that this decision is implemented in toto without entertaining any lame excuses.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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Cleanliness will improve in city

Residents often complain about sanitation workers absence from duty. Watches will definitely help MC officials check their whereabouts. The sanitation staff will attend their duty on time if they wear watches. It will improve cleanliness in the city. When Municipal Commissioner and other staff can wear watches then what is the problem with sanitation workers. Their union should allow the field staff to wear watches. If there is any issue, it can be resolved amicably by taking officials concerned into confidence.

Tarlok Singh, Chandigarh

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City Beautiful left to stink

The MC’s move of making the sanitation staff wear watches has backfired. The city was left to stink during workers’ protest. The reason behind refusal to wear GPS-enabled watches does not hold any water. The present situation could be avoided if Mayor could call the shots and satisfy city’s electorate. The Municipal Commissioner wants every employee on MC’s pay roll to do the assigned duty.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Will increase workers’ efficiency

Smart watches are to increase efficiency and punctuality in the work field. So, there should be no problem in wearing GPS-enabled watches. Sanitation workers should not oppose the move rather they should appreciate and cooperate with the Municipal Corporation to make the city cleaner.

S Kapil, Chandigarh

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Watches will only check absentees

It is unfair on the part of workers to refuse to wear GPS-enabled watches in the name of health issues. There is a concrete proof that these watches are not harmful for health as these are already worn by the Municipal Commissioner and other staff. Sanitation workers need to understand that watches are only to check shirkers/absentees, who should be rightly punished for dereliction of their duty. The ones who are doing their duty with honesty and dedication need not worry.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Will check wastage of man hours

Providing smart watches by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to its sanitation staff is undoubtedly an appreciable step. Watches will help the MC in effectively supervising sanitation workers and curtail wastage of man hours.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

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Don’t inconvenience residents

To keep a tab on MC sanitation workers and bring transparency in the system, GPS enabled watches must be worn by the field staff. If watches are faulty, showing wrong locations or posing any health problems to workers, these can be rechecked and replaced. Non-performance of duty, showing anger by holding protests and strike and inconveniencing residents is not a good move amid the ongoing pandemic.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Consider demands of waste collectors

The UT Municipal Corporation should consider demands of waste collectors because it is not advisable to allow piling up of garbage in the city even for one day. Waste collectors always try to keep the city clean. When Covid-19 had spreading and every resident stayed indoors, they worked continuously even during that period. Their job is health hazard prone. Still they do their duty sincerely. So, their genuine demands must be taken up by the UT authorities.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Politics ruined civic body’s move

The GPS-enabled watches would have undertaken multiple tasks and ensured judicious use of the MC funds. The manner in which the Congress and the BJP supported sanitation workers clearly establishes the fact that the forthcoming MC elections and the huge vote bank played a crucial role. Sanitation workers do not undertake their assignments. They want salaries without doing their duty. Hence, all this is hullabaloo. The MC Commissioner needs to take a tough stand on the matter.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

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Monetary benefits to improve efficiency

GPS-enabled watch is not suitable for sanitation worker. There should be proper attendance system for these employees. An emergency number can be provided for availing sanitation services in case of unavailability. The MC can give small monetary benefits according worker’s performance to improve his/her efficiency.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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MC, workers should negotiate

Most city residents were affected by sanitation workers’ protest. Many times, the authorities mark workers absent on residents’ complaint. They should check location of workers physically before marking him/her absent. All genuine facilities should be provided to workers and they should be treated properly. A mediator can negotiate between the MC and workers to solve the issue of wearing watches and related health problems.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Develop waste management app

The UT Municipal Corporation must instal GPS trackers in garbage collection vehicles as research about health concerns in wearable technology is still going on. A waste management app should be developed to monitor and provide updates about garbage lifting, nearest available bin and shortest route to the bin. It can help redress grievances by taking and uploading pictures of non-lifted or scattered waste in the city.

Komal Singh, Chandigarh

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Watches will promote sincerity

GPS watches are useful. We always notice garbage lying in streets and on roads. If city is garbage free there will be more tourism activities, which will increase income of the UT Administration and the MC. Wearing GPS-enabled watches will make sanitation workers sincere in their job.

Akshar Kumar Singla, Punjab

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Stick to your guns MC

There is no denying that the claim of MC sanitation staff, currently up in arms against the authorities for the introduction of GPS-enabled watches, is bereft of any logical reasoning. The decision came in the wake of a surfeit residents’ complaints asserting workers were rarely seen at their designated location of work. The staff asserted that watches do not show their right location of work, besides being a health hazard, a claim rubbished by the Municipal Commissioner. The MC should go ahead with its decision to introduce the GPS-enabled watches.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Workers’ freedom, not watches is issue

The issue of wearing GPS-enabled watches by the sanitation staff has caused lot of resentment among employees. Watches showing wrong location can be easily verified and checked by the authorities concerned. Normally, GPS-enabled instruments give correct location. Watches can be repaired if giving a wrong location. It appears that sanitation workers want more freedom as watches will create a problem for them by showing their exact location. The matter can be sorted out with positive dialogue between the MC and sanitation workers. It’s a step towards Digital India.

Wg Cmdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali

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No sir, this is not the way

If I had been an employee of the Chandigarh MC, I would also have protested against wearing a GPS-enabled watch. Who wants to be snooped around – be it under on any pretext – marking their online attendance or checking their location etc? No sir, this is not the way. Officials may wear it, but you have to understand the psyche of Class IV employees. They will be defensive when cornered. Their dignity is also hurt. So, instead of treating employees like ‘cattle’, let’s build trust and a good work culture in them. It is possible if senior officials of the MC set an example of sincerity and uprightness and spend time with the sanitation staff.

Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt

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Give incentive for wearing watch

Change is always challenging and difficult to implement. So, introduction of GPS-enabled watches is no exception. You need a leader, who can implement it gradually and not abruptly. Psychology of sanitary workers should be studied. Some incentives can be given to motivate workers to wear watches.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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A pat on the back goes a long way

Safai karamcharis are required to wear GPS watches so that their movements can be traced minute to minute. Why do we try to discipline the lowest cadre of the government service as if seniors and officers are ‘doodh ke dhule’? We all are human beings. Let the human touch and feeling not get eroded. If you want to make us machines employ robots. A pat on the back carries a person long way and constant watch betrays life and promotes hatred. GPS can be faulty as often on my smart phone my location is shown in Uttrakhand while I live in Mohali.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

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Wear watches on trial basis

It is good news that sanitation workers have ended their strike.

It is always difficult to accept and implement a change. The MC has hastened to implement wearing of GPS watched mandatory. Sanitary workers union should have been taken into confidence before taking this step. The MC and workers should not adopt confrontation attitude. First, worker should wear GPS watches on trial basis. If results are good, then the MC can make GPS watches mandatory for the field staff.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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A kind of modern slavery

Incorporation of GPS-enabled watches for sanitation workers is a kind of modern slavery. This would invade privacy of employees, who are not aware about modern gadgets.Some garbage collectors alleged that they faced some health issues like vomiting and swollen wrists after wearing these watches. Considering privacy, health and dignity of the labour class the higher authorities should take some other measures to keep a check on the performance of workers instead of providing watches.

Nakhpreet Kaur, Sanghol

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educate staff about its benefits

After introduction of GPS-enabled watches for sanitation workers, cleaning in the city has improved. Now, workers don’t have to assemble and wait for their supervisors for attendance. But, a new scheme should have a trial and the staff should be educated about its benefits before implementation. MC officials must address problems faced by the field staff, give incentive to those working hard and employ a few ex-servicemen as supervisors so that the City Beautiful remains one of the cleanest cities in the country.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

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Prove ill-effects of wearing watches

Absenteeism is a worst kind of indiscipline spread in all departments. This menace should be checked to save thousands of man hours lost every year. The protest against watches is just an excuse. No health hazards are reported by any athletes, who wear similar gadgets, while playing or practicing. A tough stand should be taken against any such demand. The field staff should prove the ill-effects of watches if any.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Take advice from health authorities

It is no secret that sanitation workers often skip their duties, which creates problems for residents. Providing GPS-enabled watches to the sanitation staff to check their location and mark e-attendance is a good move. An advice on wearing watches and its adverse effects can be sought from the health authorities. If the MC gets a green signal only then the sanitation staff should be asked to wear watches.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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It’s time to check appeasement

The stand to the demand of sanitary workers to withdraw GPS-enabled watches is a blunt no to be fair to public purse and convenience. In our democratic set up, voters don’t decide issues. They decide who will decide issues. This big gap is exploited and politics creeps into purely administrative matters. Sadly, discipline is considered antithetical to democracy. It’s time to check appeasement, the bane of vote-bank democracy. Striking work, is striking the country. Everybody getting paid out of the public purse must prove worthy for employment.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Imbibe exemplary work culture

Owing to last week’s strike of sanitation workers, residents plunged into a filthy environment as garbage remained piled up on road sides across the city. The main demand of sanitation workers was withdrawal of GPS-enabled watches. Why the lowest strata of employees are made victims of indiscipline? Why not bureaucrats, who control city’s administration? There is a need to imbibe the spirit of exemplary work culture, discipline, dedication, honesty and bring awareness among residents. But, certainly not GPS-enabled watches, which create untrustworthiness and need to be dispensed with.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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QUESTION

The condition of roads in the tricity is pitiable, which poses a danger to motorists. The Chandigarh MC has been citing fund crunch for potholed roads. The situation is the same in neighbouring towns, including Panchkula, Mohali, Kharar, Zirakpur and Dera Bassi. What do you think is lacking and what needs to be done to ensure a smooth ride for commuters?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]