The Hindu        18.08.2014

Corporation considers 50% cut in workforce

Committee to suggest steps; officials reluctant on proposal to abolish post of tax collector

Chennai Corporation is considering a proposal to reduce its workforce by 50 per cent. The civic body has constituted a committee to recommend measures on reduction of workforce in all departments.

Automation of some civic services and outsourcing of operations will be the alternative to the work of a chunk of the workforce in case the recommendations that the committee is likely to suggest are implemented.

The committee has already begun work. One of the suggestions made by the committee recently was to abolish the post of tax collectors and promote outsourcing of tax collection through banks.

However, the senior officials of Chennai Corporation are reluctant to abolish all the posts of tax collectors, who have been instrumental in collection of 80 per cent of property tax last year.

“Most of the assessees will not pay property tax on their own. Each tax collector persuades at least 3,000 residents and traders to pay property tax every year.

There will be a dip in property tax collection if the post of tax collector is abolished,” said an employee of Chennai Corporation.

The posts of tax assessors and licence inspectors will continue to be filled in the revenue department for assessment of property or issuance of trade licence.

Scrutiny on

The committee has also started screening all other sections of employees including those pertaining to bus routes, parks, playgrounds, stormwater drains, public health and streetlights to explore the possibility of reducing workforce.

Other sections under the scanner include those involved with bus routes, parks