Hyderabad: Some officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have been accused of swindling over Rs 4 crore meant for purchase of safety gear of about 24,000 field workers.
The civic body has to provide jackets, face masks, gloves and shoes to its workers for their safety and soap and coconut oil for their health. However, only jackets have been provided and the money meant for other safety gear has reportedly been swindled.
Mr U. Gopal, president of the pro-TRS Greater Hyderabad Municipal Employees Union (GHMEU) alleged that sanitation wing officials had been swindling Rs 4 crore annually and putting the life of sanitation workers at high risk.
The average life expectancy of a municipal worker is said to be 45 years, and the lack of basic safety equipment is said to be the reason. According to highly placed sources, Rs 2 crore was being swindled by not providing sweeping staff with something as basic as brooms. The staff continue to use the old brooms way past their expiration dates.
The corporation has been spending Rs 1,908 per sanitation worker annually. According to the official record, the corporation has been spending per year per worker, Rs 218 for a litre of coconut oil to be given twice a year to each worker, Rs 490 for slippers for male workers and Rs 243 for female workers, Rs 1,663 for shoes, Rs 177 for a radium jacket and Rs 278 for other sweeping equipment. These expenses are shown on paper, but the field staff has not received much of this.
“The officials provide only jackets with reflective stickers, not other equipment. Due to lack of safety equipment the workers often fall prey to diseases. The average life expectancy has already fallen to 45 years and if neglected further, it may fall further,” a source said. Officials have not been providing the safety gear since two years, but are claiming monthly bills for the full amount with the connivance of middle-level staff.
A senior GHMC official, on condition of anonymity, said that the assistant medical officers of health (AMOH) have to distribute the equipment every two months. However, an official admitted that he had seen reflective jackets being distributed to every worker but had not kept a tab on the remaining items. “The corporation will probe into the issue and will initiate stringent action if officials are found guilty,” the official said.
Sanitation workers say they had not received any facilities from the corporation. A 40-year-old sanitation worker said the corporation for the last one year had not provided her with hand gloves, oil or chappals. When she asked for the facilities, the local AMOH threatened to remove her name from the rolls.
She said without masks, its very difficult to work in dusty areas with the ongoing construction.
