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.
