4 employees were told work would last 10 days; principal won't send anyone for duty during Assembly elections
4 employees were told work would last 10 days; principal won't send anyone for duty during Assembly elections
A A Galgali, principal of Poorna Prajna High School in Dahisar, has not seen four members of her clerical staff at work for the past year even though they figure on the payroll of the institute.
The members were posted as booth level officers for election duty. They are still burdened with the work. The Lok Sabha elections took place on April 30 in Mumbai.
Fed up with the unprofessionalism on the part of the government, Galgali has vowed not to send her staff for election duty during the Assembly polls in October.
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"Two of my staff were unconstitutionally made to work for five electoral rolls when the GR (see box) clearly states that the officers are allowed to work maximum two times.
And why don't they use anyone from the neighbouring schools? They are taking advantage of us because we are co-operative," said a livid Galgali.
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Misunderstanding
According to Krishna Udappa, a clerk at the school, the staff was made to work throughout the day. "It caused a huge misunderstanding between the principal and us.
The school did not understand why we weren't reporting to work and the booth-in-charge wouldn't relieve us.
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There was a lot of tension. Initially, they told us the duty would last for 10 days, but it extended to three months and then for a year," explained Udappa.
Vishwas Patil, collector for suburban Mumbai, said shortage of manpower combined with heavy workload rendered them helpless.
"We needed to create photo identity cards for 90 per cent of the electorate and we could only use the non-teaching staff because of a Supreme Court ruling.
If there is a particular complaint, we will address the issue," said Patil.
Govt Resolution
According to a government resolution released by the Chief Electoral Officer to all states and unions, booth level officers (BLO) will be made 'responsible for one part of the electoral roll.
However, in case of inadequacy of manpower, one BLO can be made to remain in charge of at the most two parts of the electoral roll.'
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