Is This Slum Rehabilitation or Retired Officials’ Rehabilitation?

Moneylife Digital Team 11 July 2017

Public Interest

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) was created to rehabilitate slum-dwellers in Mumbai and make the city slum-free. However, almost 80% of the officers and staff at SRA are non-governmental and work on contract basis, reveals a reply received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The reply received by RTI activist Anil Galgali shows that out of the 403 officers and staff at SRA, almost 80% are working on contract. This includes those re-appointed after retirement from government service. "These external staff do not have any responsibility affixed on them thereby turning the SRA into Developer's Rehabilitation Authority, the latest being role played by SRA's Chief Executive Officer, who cleared hundreds of files just before his retirement," Galgali said.

As per the roster approved for Mumbai SRA, there are 99 posts, of which 65 have been filled up and 34 are vacant. Of the 34 vacant posts, one post each is of legal advisor and under-secretary, five posts of nayab tahsildar, and 18 of sub-engineer. There are 73 officers working in SRA on deputation. Apart from these, SRA hired the services of 75 clerks and 38 peons through Eagle Security and Personal Services. The SRA has appointed 98 clerks and peons on contract as well.

Fifty four retired officers have been reinstated in SRA. This includes three Chief Legal Advisors, one Chief Coordinator, one Deputy Collector, nine Nayab Tahsildars, one Public Relations Officer, one Complaints Redressal Officer, two Collector's Land officers, two Deputy Auditors, and 13 Surveyors, the RTI reply shows.

Galgali, in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has demanded that the government give preference to staff and officers appointed through its own services, rather than appointing retired officers and staff on contract. Also the CEO and senior officials of the SRA should be made accountable for the slow progress of projects under SRA, the RTI activist demanded.

Comments

User

GLN Prasad

9 years ago

As a citizen I am only concerned with getting my job done, who does it, and how they does it not my issue. If only Govt. can deliver the services properly within time , I am happy and I do not have any grievance on the way they function.