Last week, the COVID-19 toll amongst Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees crossed the 250 mark, reports stated. To date, 6,845 BMC workers have been infected by the coronavirus. From these, 6,145 recovered as of the first week of December.
The highest number of fatalities reported were 54 among the staffers of the solid waste management department. This was trailed by the health department with 43 employees, mentioned accounts.
In 2020, the civic body lost two senior officials to COVID-19. Deputy municipal commissioner, Shirish Dixit who was 55 years old, succumbed at his residence in Mahim in June 2020. This happened just hours into him testing positive for the novel virus. On the other hand, the assistant municipal commissioner of the H-East ward lost his life in July 2020, remarked narratives.
Officials from the BMC have reportedly made requests for INR 50 lakh compensation for the family of nearly 200 workers to the Centre, with few attaining their compensation. It has been claimed that the BMC have given compensation to the families of a large number of its succumbed workers.
According to reports, in May 2020, the civic authority had proclaimed INR 10 lakh compensation in case of fatalities of its staff owing to COVID-19. This was then increased after pressure from employee unions.
Moreover, the fire brigade lost 12 employees while the BMC security department lost 14 staffers. Similarly, nine contract workers of the solid waste management department also lost their lives to the virus.
Based on accounts, an official from the municipal authority has remarked on how all applications of claims of staffers who have succumbed due to COVID-19 are sent to the Centre. This is done under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for compensation.
In case the claim is rejected, the civic body gives compensation worth INR 50 lakh along with a job to the deceased's family member. This is done by means of its preferential treatment case scheme.
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