The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council on Tuesday debated the amendment to the Cadre and Recruitment (C and R) Rules that is being proposed after nearly 40 years.
When several Opposition councillors pointed out lacunae in the rules, the council approved the proposed amendment and resolved to form a committee to bring in the required changes before sending it for government for approval.
The new committee will be constituted with Commissioner Siddaiah, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy, Deputy Mayor L. Srinivas, Ruling Party Leader N. Nagaraju, Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar, Janata Dal (S) Floor Leader Thimme Gowda as members.
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The amendment proposal was tabled after it was approved by the Standing Committee for Administration and Personnel Reforms. It is said that the rules have not been amended after 1971 and 1977.
Cutting costs
Committee chairperson V. Vageesh said the amendments would help in recruitment and timely promotion, thereby providing a transparent administration. “This will also bring down administrative expenses,” he claimed.
However, Kacharakanahalli councillor Padmanabha Reddy pointed out the amendments did not address excess staff in various departments in unsanctioned posts, which cost the BBMP some Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore in administrative costs.
Even councillors from BJP (Ruling Party) had some suggestions to be included in the amendment. Chickpet councillor A.L. Shivakumar said the Comptroller and Accountant General’s report noted that the BBMP was paying salary to 3,259 excess people, some of whom had retired or even dead. “As per records, there are 19,916 employees but BBMP’s staff strength is only 16,657.”
White elephants
Dr. Rajkumar Ward councillor Gangabyraiah pointed out the difference in the salary scale of BBMP employees and those on deputation from other departments and said they had become white elephants for the cash-strapped BBMP.
Opposition Leader Gunashekar noted that the amendment did not allow for creating more posts in key departments in line with the city’s growth.