Mumbai: After an employee of the Solid Waste Management department committed suicide due to alleged abuse and non-payment of salary, three workers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation were suspended.
According to the Indian Express, Ramesh Parmar, 27, died on December 23 after working as a safai kamgar for two years throughout the pandemic. Sanitation employees known as ‘Safai kamgars’ are responsible for sweeping, rubbish loading, and other duties.
The non-payment of Parmar’s dues by BMC officials was deemed negligent. An administrative officer, a head clerk, and another clerk have been placed on administrative leave until the outcome of an investigation. Following his death, his family was provided Rs 1 lakh as an instant financial aid.
Parmar’s father had previously held a similar position for 30 years and had died in 2019, while working to ensure flood management in Goregaon. After the death of Parmar,s father Parmar was given the job, as per BMC rules.
Parmar had a partial disability. Originally hired as a sweeper, Parmar was transferred to the office once it was discovered that his infirmity prevented him from sweeping with his arms. When local train services were disrupted during COVID-19, Parmar’s sister told the media that he would walk 5 kilometres to the office.
“According to the BMC’s investigation, on August 31, 2020, an audit officer from the P-south ward, where Parmar worked, raised a few questions about his service record. “This was never resolved, and Parmar continued to wait for his monthly salary of around Rs 28,000,” according to the report.
Parmar’s father’s dues, including his provident fund had not been released yet. Parmar throughout was including the day he committed suicide, Parmar asked for the money that was owed to him and was allegedly harassed by the higher officials in the department.
Following Parmar’s death, a protest was held by conservancy workers over delays in their salaries.
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