Mumbai: Hundreds of employees from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Public Health Department are set to stage a sit-in protest outside the office of the Executive Health Officer on Tuesday, July 22, demanding immediate action on long-pending promotions. The protesting staff will also go on a one-day mass leave.
According to Pradip Narkar, Assistant General Secretary of the Municipal Mazdoor Union, the civic administration has delayed the promotion of over 200 employees in the Health Department for the past year. “Despite a standing policy that mandates filling vacant and anticipated vacancies annually between September 1 and August 31, the administration has failed to act. As a result, 67 posts of Sanitation Inspector, 21 of Senior Sanitation Inspector, and 149 of Junior Overseer remain unfilled—denying many senior employees their rightful promotions ahead of retirement,” said Narkar.
Frustrated by repeated delays and what they allege as administrative apathy, the employees will hold a sit-in protest starting at 10 am. Union leaders have warned that the administration will be solely responsible for any disruption or inconvenience caused due to the agitation.
“These employees play a vital role in safeguarding public health,” Narkar added. “They conduct pest control, go door-to-door for health awareness campaigns, carry out malaria and dengue testing, and monitor pregnant women’s health, among other duties.”
Staff representatives say the denial of timely promotions is not only causing financial losses to committed workers but also fueling widespread dissatisfaction across the department.
