The New Indian Express 15.10.2013
Uniform rule for BBMP staff in offing?
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) may have been bungling over one thing after the other, but now plans to bring about some ‘uniformity’ with distinctive clothing for its employees.
Speaking to Express, Lakshmikanth Reddy, chairperson of the Standing Committee for Administrative Reforms, said the proposal is still in the initial stage. “Employees from the second division assistant to the commissioner’s level will have to wear uniforms. While women employees will have sarees, men have to wear shirts and trousers. Also, the staff should compulsorily wear the BBMP badge so that the public can recognise them as Palike employees,” he said.
At present, the record writers wear uniforms during the BBMP Council meetings. While women wear grey sarees, men wear grey safari suits. Group D male employees wear white shirts and white trousers. “For the remaining staff, we are yet to decide the colour. We shall discuss it with our committee and the council. Once it gets the nod, the policy will be implemented,” Reddy added.
A member of the committee, who did not wish to be named, said the issue will be discussed with the BBMP employees’ union members. R Subramaniam of the BBMP Officers’ and Employees’ Association, however, opposed the plan. “When there is no uniform at Vidhana Soudha or Vikasa Soudha, how can it be implemented in BBMP?” he questioned.
He, however, said they do not have a problem wearing badges. “When K Jairaj was the commissioner, we had distributed badges to our employees. At present, employees have identity cards,” he said.
A BBMP official said employees will accept the uniform rule, but it should be different for officers and other staff.
