RMC workers call off stir as commissioner gives clarification

RAJKOT: Of late, the corporation building has become more famous for strikes, duels and surprise programmes rather than for undertaking civic works aimed at public interest. This was further proved on Monday when at least 200 employees declared a flash strike and encircled the building of the Rajkot Municipality Corporation.
The strike was called off within two hours after the municipal commissioner took control of the situation.Striking employees raised issues like counsellors acting as hindrance to their work and having to work under constant political pressures. Counsellors openly assault our colleagues, as in the last board meeting on Saturday. "How can we tolerate such brutal insults," asked the Class III employee on strike.
To reach their point home, the workers beat drums and shouted slogans outside the commissioner’s office and later presented him with a letter of memorandum requesting effective measures against such incidents of insults. Refuting claims of a strike, RMC commissioner Mukesh Kumar said, "There was no strike. In fact, the employees were demanding clarity on some issues like the recent transfer of the charge of cattle-pond from market branch to the conservancy branch and assault by some counsellors," he said.
"Also, they are not aware of the action already initiated regarding disqualification of some counsellors etc. After these issues were discussed, the workers resumed work," Kumar added. The transfer of cattle-pond charge from market to conservancy branch was also one of the issues addressed by strike party.
"Since 1994 we have been appealing to authorities that charge of cattle-pond should be with the conservancy wing, but nobody listened. And suddenly last month, after counsellor Raju Chavadiya led a mob of Maldharis and forcibly freed 197 animals, the charge was shifted immediately. This has smashed our morale and we made a representation to commissioner regarding the same,"said a superintendent in market branch Chanabhai Bathwar. "We don’t have any problem in shifting of charge; but the time chosen by officials was wrong," he added.