MUMBAI: The Covid-19 toll among BMC employees crossed the 250 mark last week.
So far, 6,845 BMC staffers have been infected by the novel coronavirus. Of these, 6,145 had recovered as of the first week of December. The highest deaths, 54, were reported among employees in the solid waste management department, followed by the health department, which lost 43 employees.
Last year, the BMC lost two senior officers to Covid-19. While deputy municipal commissioner Shirish Dixit (55) died at his Mahim residence in June last year, hours after he tested positive for Covid-19, assistant municipal commissioner of H-East ward succumbed to the virus the month after, July.
BMC officials said requests for Rs 50 lakh compensation for the kin of around 200 employees were sent to the Centre and a few employees received the compensation. BMC gave compensation to the kin of a large chunk of its deceased employees.
In May last year, the BMC had announced Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of death of its staff because of Covid-19. The amount was hiked following pressure from employee unions.
BMC officials have been at the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus since March 11, 2020, when the first Covid-19 case was reported in Mumbai.
“SWM (solid waste management) and healthcare workers have been on duty even during the stringent lockdown during the first wave and then during the second wave too. We have lost many staffers in the second wave. The SWM department had the highest deaths since its workers have been collecting waste even from Covid hospitals. The health staff have been treating those infected, so these departments have the highest fatalities,” said a civic official.
The fire brigade carried out its duty right through the first and second Covid-19 waves and lost 12 employees. The BMC security department lost 14.
Nine contract workers of the solid waste management department also succumbed to the infection.
“BMC workers have been at the frontline everyday since March 2020. The BMC must set up a special cell to clear their dues and give them compensation. Their kin must be given jobs immediately after the death of the staffer. The BMC is spending so much money on fancy projects, it must give Rs 50 lakh compensation to all deceased employees,” said BJP corporator Vinod Mishra.
A municipal official said that the BMC first sends all applications of claims in the case of staff who have died because of Covid-19 to the Centre for compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. If the claims are rejected, the BMC gives Rs 50 lakh compensation and a job to a family member under its preferential treatment case scheme.
