The Hindu      08.02.2011

VMC increases number of sanitary divisions

Impact on strength of ‘maestris' likely

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has increased the number of sanitary divisions in the city from the existing 34 to 49. Of these, 44 divisions will be regular sanitary divisions, three night sanitation divisions and two will be silt divisions.

Official sources said on Monday that the Corporation promoted a few ‘maestris' as sanitary inspectors as there is already a shortage of about eight sanitary inspectors for the existing sanitary divisions. The move is likely to have an impact on the strength of the maestris. At present, there is a shortage of at least two maestris in each of the existing 34 divisions. The Corporation requires a minimum of four maestris for every division to monitor the sanitation works. The decision would have a cascading affect on the field staff as well, because some of them would have to be either promoted or made in-charge maestris, sources said.

Vacancies

The vacancies of field staff that arose due to retirement of workers have not been filled so far. At least 100 workers would have retired, but the vacancies have not been filled. While there is a requirement of about 100 workers in each division depending upon the jurisdiction, there are 70 to 100 workers in each division now. The officials fear that the proposal would badly hit the sanitation in the city as the existing staff “would be adjusted” for the newly formed sanitary divisions as well. The new appointments and allocation of divisions have resulted in displeasure among the staff. The existing sanitary inspectors approached Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu saying injustice was meted out to them in allocating the divisions. They felt that newly appointed sanitary inspectors were given prime divisions or bigger divisions.