2 days ago
BBMP employees go on one-day mass leave over staff crisis, various pending demands
Officers and employees of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proceeded on mass leave Tuesday as part of a one-day protest organised by the BBMP New Officers and Employees Welfare Association demanding the resolution of long-pending grievances. The protest comes amid a larger stir by civic body employees across Karnataka over various demands.
The protesting BBMP employees have gathered at Freedom Park near the BBMP head office raising serious concerns over the worsening staff crisis within the BBMP, and pointing out that more than 6,000 posts remain vacant across departments. With civic services under strain, the association has accused the administration of forcing the existing workforce to endure excessive pressure. It has also alleged that several employees have been suspended without prior notice, despite repeated appeals for intervention and relief.
At the heart of the protest is the demand for immediate withdrawal of the Logsafe attendance system, which the association claims is unfeasible for non-executive staff, including clerical employees. The employees are also demanding urgent recruitment to fill vacant positions, an end to what they describe as unjust disciplinary proceedings against school principals and headmasters within the BBMP Education Department, and stricter adherence to administrative roles for senior officials without additional sectoral responsibilities.
In addition, the association is seeking immediate promotions for architects across various ranks, continuation of e-property services for property-related transactions in the Revenue Department, repatriation of officers and employees serving on what they term as 'illegal deputation' back to their parent departments, and time-bound promotions for eligible staff across all categories.
They are also pressing for the extension of government health insurance schemes such as Jyoti Sanjeevini to BBMP employees, the finalisation of long-pending seniority lists, issuance of user IDs and passwords to 'B' grade health supervisors for business license operations, and abolition of marshal posts, which they claim are functioning without legal sanction.
Municipal employees across Karnataka have gone on mass leave for the second consecutive day and gathered at Freedom Park under the banner of the Karnataka State Municipal Corporation Employees' Union Council over longstanding demands.
The strike has disrupted civic services across major cities including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Tumkur, Shivamogga, Belagavi and Davanagere.
The striking municipal employees have demanded immediate release of allowances under the 7th Pay Commission, similar to the benefits extended to state government employees. They are also seeking amendments to recruitment rules, inclusion in government health insurance schemes, permission to participate in annual sports meets held for state employees, and long-overdue promotions in various cadres.
