A complaint has been submitted to the Collector alleging that a fraud of Rs. 27 crore 28 lakh 43 thousand 40 was committed by not properly providing wage increases for the years 2023, 2024, and 2026 to the sanitation workers of the Vellore Municipal Corporation.
The Vellore district public grievances redressal meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Collector P.S. Leela Alex. At that time, in a petition submitted by A.C. Perumal, general secretary of the Bahujan Samaj Sanitation Workers and General Workers Association, it was stated: In the Vellore Municipal Corporation, sanitation workers, garbage segregation workers, malaria mosquito eradication workers, and garbage vehicle drivers are working on a contract basis.
As per the government order, they should be paid a basic salary of Rs. 13,000 and a dearness allowance of Rs. 6,817, making a total of Rs. 19,817 per month.
However, the wage increases granted by the Collector for the years 2023, 2024, and 2026 were not properly paid, and a total of Rs. 27 crore 28 lakh 43 thousand 40 was embezzled. As a result, each worker has suffered a loss of several lakh rupees.
In addition, 12% from the workers’ wages and 12% as the management’s share, making a total PF amount of 24%, has not been properly deposited into the workers’ accounts, resulting in fraud of several crore rupees. Furthermore, although 0.75% ESI is deducted, the workers do not receive any medical benefits.
While Vellore Municipal Corporation has received a national-level cleanliness award by benefiting from their labor, it is condemnable that they are not being paid the wages due to them.
Therefore, the PF money should be audited immediately and action taken, the fraudulently deducted wage money should be calculated and immediately paid to the workers, and those who have completed 480 days of service should be made permanent. The government’s promise to abolish the contract system and free sanitation workers from a bonded-labor situation should be implemented without delay.
Petition submitted by the people of the Katpadi area: In Katpadi and its surrounding areas, the Vinayakar Chaturthi festival has been celebrated grandly for the past 14 years. At the end of the festival, it is customary to immerse the Vinayakar idols in the pond of the Sri Kailasanathar Temple in Karnampattu. However, this pond is currently neglected, overrun with thorny Prosopis trees and bushes, and filled with garbage and sludge. Therefore, in view of the upcoming festival, this pond should be cleaned out immediately and filled with water.
Petition submitted by members of the Narikuravar community from Thiruppakkuttai village: We were living along the roadside, and last year land was allotted to us in government land in Thiruppakkuttai village so that we could build houses, and pattas were also issued. However, even after a year since the pattas were issued, the concerned government officials have not yet surveyed and demarcated the land. Although we have submitted petitions several times at the Katpadi Taluk Office regarding this, no action has been taken. Therefore, the Collector should intervene and order the officials to come in person, measure the land, and also help us build houses.
Similarly, 601 petitions were received pressing various demands. The Collector instructed department officials to take swift action on them.
Among those who participated were District Revenue Officer T. Suresh, Special Deputy Collector (Social Security Scheme) C. Maran, District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer Rajarajan, District Backward Classes Welfare Officer Saravanan, District Supply Officer Saravanan, and others.