*Vijayawada (AP):* A construction worker was killed while at least seven more workers were feared trapped under mud following a landslip at a building construction site in Guntur city of Andhra Pradesh, about 35-km from Vijaywada, late on Saturday night.Police sources said the mishap occurred when a 30-feet deep cellar was being dug for a proposed multi-storey building at Lakshmipuram in Guntur.
Eight workers were said to be on the spot when there was a sudden landslip, trapping them inside, the police said. Police could extricate the body of one worker from the site while efforts were on to trace the others.
AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, MLAs Alapati Rajendra Prasad, N Anand Babu, district Collector Kantilal Dande and other officials rushed to the spot.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Banavalikar-s.jpg*Banavalikar (centre) with daughter Jyoti Honawar (left), grandson Ashish (second from right) and his family. Pic/Nimesh Dave*
Meanwhile, 'aaji' (grandmother) is reclining on a cot, smiling at the whirl around her. When you are turning 109, you have the licence to relax and watch others work to mark your special day.
Kamala’s daughter, Jyoti Honawar, is in the thick of celebrations. Jyoti's daughter, Archana, and her children are down from Nashik to mark the day.
Ashish, Jyoti's son, who lives in the neighbourhood, says, "My aaji made the best puran polis and fish curry. She used to cook till a few years ago, but of late, she has not been very mobile, and has been confined to the bed. She had a fall some time ago and has lost her confidence to walk."
Kamala, says Jyoti, was born in Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She holds an MA in Hindi literature from Nagpur University. "She was to go to London for higher studies, but because of World War II, she was unable to do so."
Kamala's great-grandsons — Aryan (12) and Avaan (6) — are her favourites. Aryan says, "I love playing racing with her on my iPad. But she prefers playing old school games like noughts and crosses and snakes 'n'
ladders."
Ashish's wife, Neha, reveals aaji's fitness mantra: "She used to regularly walk to a Shiva temple, which is a good 30 minutes away. She would refuse to take the car, saying walking is good for health. She spent time meditating and match-making, too!"
Ashish adds, "A few years ago, aaji would chase everyone with a stick around the house, if we got up to mischief. Watching her celebrate her 109th birthday makes me proud to be her grandson."
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Toilet-s.jpg*This men’s toilet on Borivali’s platform 6, with jerry cans and buckets upturned into the commodes, is a nightmare for commuters. Pic/Nimesh Dave*
While the pass-the-parcel continues, we took a two-day railway loo test-drive. Here’s how it went.
*Western Railway*
*
*
*The station: Churchgate*
*Daily (avg) commuters:* 1,05,518
*Loo present?* Yes
**
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant
*Hygiene:* The women’s toilet was clean and fully tiled. The toilet seats were kept dry, wash basin and floors mopped clean. The janitor was around when we visited. *
Availability of water:* Water was on tap and the flush worked but the janitor complained of erratic supply. We spotted leaking taps.
*Accessibility:* The lavatory sits on the white tiled concourse near the ticket counters and is easily accessible.
*Charges:* A fare chart was up, and commuters were being charged accordingly.
*Maintenance:* A rotary floor machine was being used to mop the floors outside the toilet block on the station concourse. But the stink from the men’s toilet was unbearable.
*Ventilation:* Ventilation was adequate and we spotted exhaust fans.
*Dustbin:* Present.
*
*
*The station: Mahalaxmi*
*
Daily avg commuters:* 45,000
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant
*Hygiene:* Filthy and congested. The walls were splashed with paan stains; the toilet seats were dirty.
*Accessibility:* Only one toilet block sits at the centre of the platform. Men used the women’s loo. Women stayed away entirely.
*Charges:* No cost chart was found. The janitor wasn’t collecting money.
*Availability of water:* Dry taps.
*Ventilation:* The sole exhaust fan in the women’s loo wasn’t working.
*Maintenance:* The janitor admitted that he allowed men to use the women’s loo.
*
*
*The station: Charni Road*
*Daily (avg) commuters:* 58,000
*Loo present?* Yes
*
Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant
*Hygiene:* The stench was overpowering and the wash basin was clogged.
*Availability of water:* While drought made headlines on TV, taps inside the women’s loo were running unattended. The three urinals weren’t connected to the water pipeline.
*Charges:* Rs 2 (big job), Rs 1 (small job), read a sign. We were charged as per rate.
*Accessibility:* A prominent sign led commuters to the toilet block.
*Ventilation:* Poor. The only exhaust fan wasn’t functioning, leading to a stench.
*Maintenance:* Well tiled from outside, it held two water tanks on its roof. The windows to the men’s loo unfortunately offered an unhindered view.
*Dustbin:* Present.
*
*
*The station: Andheri*
*
Daily avg commuters:* 2,50,750
*Loo present?* Not on platform. It’s located on the elevated deck.
*Visited by:* Shikha Vatsala and Fatema T
*Hygiene:* It was clean and well kept. Urinals were in good condition and the janitor said it was mopped up four times a day.
*Availability of water:* Available, flush worked.
*Accessibility:* We didn’t spot a signboard that led commuters to the toilet. It took us 10 minutes to locate it. We spotted a separate set of urinals for children. Thoughtful.
*Charges:* We saw the janitor overcharging commuters.
*Maintenance:* Of the two washbasins, only one was functional. The water coolers next to the toilet block were in poor condition. One was blocked by a metal pillar.
*Ventilation:* Well ventilated with exhaust fans.
*Dustbin:* Filthy broken bucket placed beneath wash basins.
*
*
*The station: Bandra*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 1,35,640
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Shikha Vatsala and Fatema T
*Hygiene:* The men’s loo was open and stinking. There is only one loo for women with a broken flush.
*Availability of water:* The wash basin was common for both men and women. It had running water.
*Accessibility:* Since it’s the only toilet on the platform, it’s easily found. We also found a loo for the disabled. The entrance to the women’s loo should be changed; it directly faces the platform.
*Charges:* They charged R2 for the urinal and toilet.
*Maintenance:* It was in average condition inside but the structure needs a maintenance job. The
men’s loo was open and the flush wasn’t working.
*Ventilation:* The women’s loo was stuffy. We saw no windows or exhaust.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*
The station: Lower Parel*
*Daily avg commuters:* 66,000
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant
When mid-day visited the women’s loo, it was locked and no janitor was in sight.
*
*
*The station: Dadar*
*Daily avg. commuters:* 1,45,415
*
Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Shikha Vatsala and Fatema T
*Hygiene:* Wash basins were present and the urinals were being cleaned. The floor was neat. We hear it is cleaned six times a day.
*Availability of water:* Available in wash basins and loos.
*Accessibility:* Yes; there is an additional deluxe toilet block.
*Charges:* Rs 2 for women and Rs 1 for men inside the deluxe toilet (wonder why the difference?). Rs 5 for big job (both genders).
*Maintenance:* Average. Buckets were missing.
*Ventilation:* Well ventilated with huge exhausts.
*Dustbin:* Placed near wash basin but broken.
*
*
*The station: Malad*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 1,55,000
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Shashank Rao and Nimesh Dave
*Hygiene:* Urinals cleaner than toilets. An empty alcohol bottle was found into one of the urinal blocks.
*Availability of water:* Pipes were rusty. The water flow was reed thin.
*Accessibility:* Stands at the end of the platform, so was easily accessible.
*Charges:* The fare chart was torn. The janitor was charging what he wished. Male janitor was manning the women’s loo. Creepy.
*Maintenance:* Below average. Children were seen playing on the roof.
*Ventilation:* Average. Exhaust fans were present but growling and old.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*Harbour Line*
**
**
*The station: CST*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 1,09,700
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Shashank Rao and Atul Kamble
*Hygiene:* The HQ of Central Railway is one of the most congested in the world. The toilet block here is the largest on this line and marked by long queues. The partitions inside urinals were dirty, and the toilets could be better maintained (although the happy dolphin tiles were a surprise).
*Availability of water:* Not all taps were functioning. The pipes were leaking.
*Accessibility:* Easily accessible since it is on the concourse.
*Charges:* The janitor was overcharging selectively.
*Maintenance:* There is scope for improvement.
*Ventilation:* The exhausts are functioning but the stench continues to rule.
*Dustbin:* Present.
*The station: Nerul*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 42,870
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Faisal Tandel and Sameer Markhande
*Hygiene:* The tiles and floor were clean but the urinals need better maintenance. Due to water shortage, it is cleaned only once every morning.
*Availability of water:* Was available. We saw water being ferried to wash cars parked in the marking lot.
Accessibility: Easily located but is almost at the fag end of the station. The toilet on the station premises is used only by ticket checkers and railway staff. No signboards pointed to the toilet.
*Charges:* Rs 5 (big and small job) and Rs 10 for bath.
*Maintenance:* The windows were broken and there was graffiti on the walls. The wash basin needs repairs.
*Ventilation:* There was a one exhaust.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*The station: Reay Road*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 16,530
*Loo present:* Yes
*Visited by:* Shashank Rao and Atul Kamble
*Hygiene:* A new toilet has replaced an old one that was in shambles. The structure is well maintained from the inside, with clean tiles and urinal partitions.
*Availability of water:* Available. Four large water tanks sat beside the block. Fixtures were in good condition.
*Accessibility:* Good. A loo for the disabled is present but was locked.
*Charges:* Rate chart displayed and charges collected accordingly.
*Maintenance:* The new toilet was spick and span with the janitor sitting right opposite. The old toilet which is in a mess is likely to be demolished.
*Ventilation:* Fitted with multiple exhausts.
*Dustbin:* Present.
*The station: Wadala*
*Daily avg. commuters:* 49,200
*
Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Shashank Rao and Atul Kamble
*Hygiene:* It’s poorly maintained. The partitions of urinals were stained, the tiles were mucky. The janitor couldn’t care less.
*Availability of water:* The taps were leaking. The wash basins had water supply.
*Accessibility:* It can be easily located. Another toilet on platform no. 4 has an open urinal and the women’s loo was locked and had an iron grill.
*Charges:* The rate chart had the amounts scratched out.
*Maintenance:* The loo on platform no. 4 was better maintained. The one on platform no. 1 was shabby with the janitor sitting idle. Around it were stacked broken ATVMs and rusted furniture.
*Ventilation:* Messy, dusty and it stank.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*The station: Sandhurst Road*
*Daily avg. commuters:* 23,990
*
Loo present:* Yes
*Visited by:* Shashank Rao and Atul Kamble
*Hygiene:* The tiles, walls and ceiling were in terrible condition. Seepage was evident on walls as well as on the ceiling above the water tank. The stench here was overpowering.
*Availability of water:* The taps ran a trickle.
*Accessibility:* Was fine.
*Charges:* A rate card was displayed and money was being collected. No attendant was seen for men’s loo. There was one for women’s loo.
*Maintenance:* Congested during peak hours, and it needs better upkeep.
*Ventilation:* Cobwebs and dirt covered the exhausts.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*Central Railway (Main line)*
*
*
*The station: Kurla*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 95,330
*Loo present:* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Datta Kumbhar
*Hygiene:* There are two toilets at Kurla station, one on platform 1 and another platforms 2-3. We found both in a dilapidated condition, especially the latter. The women’s loo was dilapidated. The toilet bowl was clogged and the taps were running. Excreta lay on the tiles inside.
*Availability of water:* No bucket or mug was available in the toilet.
*Charges:* People were using it for free.
*Accessibility:* With just two urinals, there was a long queue even during non-rush hours.
*Ventilation:* Unbearable stench
*Maintenance:* Not maintained at all. No woman in her right mind would use it.
*Dustbin:* Present in 1 but overflowing. Absent in 2-3.
*
*
*The station: Byculla*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 42,700
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Datta Kumbhar
*Hygiene:* Toilets were in bad shape, the wash basin was clogged. The toilet seats were clean but the flush was missing.
*Availability of water:* The taps were leaking inside the women’s toilet. The wash basin pipe was broken inside the men's loo. Water was being wasted.
*Charges:* No one was paying according to the rate card.
*Accessibility:* Easily accessible.
*Ventilation:* The windows were shut. Suffocating.
*Maintenance:* They have miles to go before they sleep.
*Dustbin:* Present outside the loo.
*The station: Currey Road*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 24,400
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Datta Kumbhar
*Hygiene:* The walls were tiled, the toilet seats clean. No stains anywhere.
*Availability of water:* Running water was available in the tap and the flush. The tap in the women’s loo was leaking and the wash basin was clogged.
*Charges:* A rate card was pasted but not everyone was paying up.
*Accessibility:* The passage to the bathroom is narrow. There is only one toilet in the women’s section, so it gets overcrowded during peak hours.
*Ventilation:* Waste was dumped around and spit stains were everywhere. The women’s toilet was small and missing an exhaust.
*Maintenance:* It looked like it wasn’t frequented by a janitor.
*Dustbin:* Bucket for a dustbin.
*The station: Ghatkopar*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 1,07,500
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Datta Kumbhar
*Hygiene:* In good condition. The dustbin was closed, handwash bottles were by the basin. Both women’s toilets were spacious. Something needs to be done about the stench.
*Charges:* Highest rate across stations we visited — Rs 5. We found no rate chart.
*Availability of water:* Available on tap and in flush.
*Accessibility:* Can be easily located.
*Ventilation:* Appropriate.
*Maintenance:* Doors had suitable locks. The premises were tidy.
*Dustbin:* Missing.
*The station: Mulund*
*
Daily avg. commuters:* 99,070
*Loo present?* Yes
*Visited by:* Silky Sharma and Datta Kumbhar
*Hygiene:* Toilets on platform no. 1 were in average condition. The taps were running, the flush was missing, and the floor was wet. The stench was terrible. The women’s toilet on another platform was shuttered. A man standing outside said he chooses to keep it shut because “eunuchs enter and do mischief”.
*Availability of water:* Available.
*Accessibility:* The women’s loo stands in the middle of platform no.1, so it is easy to locate.
*Charges:* A rate card was pasted. (Rs 1 for urinal, Rs 2 for big job). Ventilation: Poor. It’s difficult to stand anywhere near the toilet block.
*Dustbin:* Bucket instead of dustbin. Sanitary napkins were strewn on the floor.
*
*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Pernia-Qureshi-s.jpg
“I am going to be talking about the future of the luxury fashion market in India. But I am also looking forward to chat about how designers from Paris can understand Indian textiles better,” Qureshi told us. But it’s taking Indian luxury international is what excites her the most. “I grab any opportunity that comes my way to do that. That’s what makes this worthwhile.”
*Motorcycle diaries**Pic/Satej Shinde*
Actor Salman Khan and Aras Gibieza, a two-time European stunting riding champion, looked set to burn some rubber at an event held at a Malad mall on Saturday.
*Rohan Shreshta’s fan boy moment*
Ace photographer Rohan Shreshta is not the kind to get dazzled by celebrities. But, recently, while shooting with legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane, the 30-year-old found himself stuttering.
“I’ve idolised Zizou for as long as I can remember, and then to be right next to him was surreal,” says Shreshta, who shot a TVC with him in Madrid. “I got the call for the ad when I was vacationing in Cuba. I left my holiday mid-way because you don’t get a chance like this often.”
Shreshta revealed that apart from being painfully good looking, and fit at 45, Zizou is humble to a fault. “He was co-operative despite the language barrier. We communicated via a translator.”
Shreshta even discussed his #whiteTseries campaign, where he shoots celebs in a white ganjee, which Zidane agreed to be a part of. “At the end of the shoot, Zizou came up to me and said something in French, which I couldn’t figure. When I asked the translator, he said, ‘Zizou said you’re a fantastic photographer’.” Kudos.
*Back on track*
When we met India-born UK-based Chef Stephen Gomes last week, he was chirpy, with teething problems at his first city restaurant, Chemistry 101, put behind him. The special party held on April 6 welcomed an overflowing guestlist, which, threw service off gear. But bad press, he says, is a learning lesson.*Stephen Gomes. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*
“We were first told there would be 40 guests, and the number went to 70, and finally, we had 150 guests. But, we are back on track, and the response has been overwhelming. For now, we have closed our top section and are catering to 30 covers at the ground level. I will open the top level only once we are confident that we can give personal attention to more guests,” says Gomes who wants to look ahead as they launch lunch service, including a molecular gastronomy thali. Who said lunch meetings are boring?
*A six-year-old storyteller*
A little birdie recently took this diarist by surprise when she mentioned the release of her first self-published book. The diarist’s writing ambitions aside, what made this newbie author the source of slight envy, was her age. All of six, Ashwika Khanna, a senior KG student at BD Somani International School, has written a children’s book titled, Pushti and Anushti at the Airport.
*
*
First in the series of stories about two sisters, the 12-page book will be available for kiddies on online platforms, says her mom Payal. “Pushti is like me,” says Ashwika innocently. “She is obedient and listens to her parents. But Anushti is very naughty and gets into trouble. I want kids to know that we should always be good.”
*First quarter out*
Doing it in style, the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016 announced its first 25 participating artists, egging the public to ask for more. Under the discerning curation of Sudarshan Shetty, the list has a good mix of names from foreign shores and home turf.*Riyaz Komu*
We are especially excited for Avinash Veeraraghavan, Orijit Sen, Anamika Haksar, Praneet Soi, TV Santhosh and Desmond Lazaro. Riyas Komu, the festival’s co-founder, tells us that Shetty’s choices will bring together different streams of thought, which are sure to make the Biennale into a melting pot of ideas.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Vinod-Tawde-s.jpg*Yesterday, parents met state education minister Vinod Tawde*
Early on Saturday, a group of parents met Education Minister Vinod Tawde at his residence. Later, they attended a meeting with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. A group of parents will head for Delhi on Monday to meet officials from the education department. In the meanwhile, protests continue at different places across the state.
One parent, Ajay Gupta, who met Tawde, said, “He assured us that the government is trying to help. Thackeray, too, showed his support. We do not know who will help and who won’t, but we are leaving no stone unturned.”
Another parent, Saloni Shahstri, said, “The SC’s decision is going to be advantageous for those who are from CBSE and have prepared for AIPMT (the All-India Pre-Medical Test), which is now NEET phase I. Students from state boards —not just Maharashtra, but several other states — are at a great disadvantage.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Train-accident-s.jpg*These CCTV grabs show Jagmohan Jaiswal losing his grip and another commuter rushing to help him*
Grabs of CCTV footage (available with *mid-day*) shows the man, identified as Jagmohan Jaiswal (23) from his Aadhaar card, slipping out of the last coach of a CST-bound train — pulling out of platform 2 of the railway station around 5 am — falling in the gap between the tracks and the platform, and another commuter helplessly trying to pull him out. Once the train moved out, Jaiswal was rescued and rushed to Thane Civil Hospital.
He was later shifted to JJ Hospital.
A doctor at JJ Hospital said Jaiswal had suffered multiple grievous injuries, primarily to the head, and succumbed to them on Saturday.
TP Lahane, the hospital’s dean, said he had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage (a stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain), a subdural haematoma (where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain), multiple rib and pelvic fractures, and injuries to the feet, the thorax and the lumbar spine.
A Thane Government Railway Police (GRP) officer said it was initially suspected that Jaiswal had been pushed out by a passenger, but the police ruled that out after recording his statement at the hospital. “Since early morning trains are usually vacant, he couldn’t have fallen out because of lack of space. So, we initially suspected foul play. But he told us at the hospital that he had slipped.”
Rupali Ambure, deputy commissioner of police, central division, GRP, said the youth said he had lost his grip on the pole at the coach’s entrance. “He made it clear that there was no foul play.”
Another GRP official said the police would register an accident death report once JJ Hospital sends its report.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/15-Sanjay-Nirupam-s.jpg*Nirupam said Sena leaders had arrived at the meeting before him*
Even before Nirupam reached the venue, Sena leaders including Vibhag Pramukh Abhijit Adsul were present.
Nirupam claims that when he started his speech, Sena leaders started pelting stones at him. “Two of our activists were hurt and are being treated at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital now. They told me not to name Uddhav Thackeray in my speech and I told them to ask BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who has claimed that some ‘Saheb’, is behind all corruption [in BMC],” he said.
Adsul said, “Why bring in Uddhavji’s name in the corruption controversy when he has nothing to do with it? If Nirupam has no documents he’s only doing politics and hence, we were there to warn him against naming our leader,” said Adsul.
A police official from Samta Nagar police station said, “We are in the process of registering an FIR. The investigations will begin then.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena got embroiled in a social media war with the BJP. After Thursday’s meeting regarding the Super Expressway connecting Nagpur and Mumbai, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Minister Eknath Shinde tweeted a picture of him along with CM Devendra Fadnavis, and titled it as ‘meeting taking a note of various projects’ on Friday.
But when Fadnavis put up a picture, it was sans Shinde. Shiv Sena workers lashed out at him for ‘photoshopping’ a picture related to the meeting, and accused him of leaving Shinde out of the frame. Some tweets even referred to the CM as “creditchor”. A few handles associated with Shiv Sena tweeted the following: Sena activist Bhumish Save: ‘Looks like @BJP4India is short of #Bhakts; so using official government handles for misleading people. #FekuMemes.’
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Narayan-Nagar-s.jpg*A resident of Narayan Nagar in Ghatkopar West interacts with (centre) lab assistant Narayan Subramaniam and (right) peon Vishnu Sharma. While on election duty, the two have covered homes between Powai and Kurla since May 2015, having to skip school duty entirely. Pics/Datta Kumbhar*
On May 28, 2015, Subramaniam (54) and Sharma (42) — who work as lab assistant and peon respectively, at Ghatkopar’s North Bombay Welfare Society’s High School — were deputed as field officers after a letter was received by the school by the district election officer-168 of the Chandivli Vidhansabha Matadar Sangh, asking for them specifically. The school headmaster Ashok Kumar’s four letters since then to the said officer and also the previous Suburban Collector Shekhar Channe (who held the office till April 2016) has met with no response. In their absence, the government-aided school’s functioning has been affected since it can’t hire staff to replace them.*Often, Narayan Subramaniam (Right) and Vishnu Sharma (left) end up meeting disgruntled residents such as Sayyad Mohammed Kamar (centre). He shouted at the two saying, “I have been staying in this area for years. Out of 18 members of my family, including relatives, all of whom stay close by, only my name is missing from the electoral list. I have not been able to vote for the last two elections due to this. Why am I being deprived of my right to vote?” The duo could only ask him to approach the local election office, assuring him of all assistance required*
In the meanwhile, while Subramaniam and Sharma continue their work as booth level officers (BLOs) without training or briefing, they have to travel door-to-door between Powai and Kurla (the assembly constituency they have been assigned) without any reimbursement for transport, food (most of their meals have to be taken on the road) or even the honorarium of Rs 6,000 per year paid to such staff on either a yearly or half-yearly basis.*Last May, Ashok Kumar, the headmaster of Ghatkopar’s North Bombay Welfare Society’s High School, received a letter from district election officer, 168 Chandivli, asking that Subramaniam and Sharma report for electoral duty. The letter said the institute would be liable for punishment under the Representation Of People Act 1951 if there was non-compliance*
“We were asked to submit a cancelled cheque, which we did a couple of weeks ago, but we are not sure if anything will come into our bank accounts. We had to also spend for the revenue stamp of Re 1 and even the lamination charges for our identity cards. We do not even get a complementary tea when we visit the election office for submission,” shrugged Subramaniam.
*Not an easy job*
A circular by Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya dated March 11, 2015, states that as per directives of the Election Commission of India, between March 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015, work would begin on the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) [purification signifies the updation of names on the list i.e. updating names, photographs and addresses]. BLOs would be appointed for this by government offices, and would have to do this work in addition to the work they do at their parent establishments. However, the circular clarifies that the BLOs can’t be made to work beyond the stipulated time which ranges from 48 days and 96 days i.e. once a week or twice a week. Whoever appointed Subramaniam and Sharma (and most likely a horde of other BLOs in the city), doesn’t seem to have understood this.
“Our first task when we reported to the Vidhyavihar electoral office was to enrol first-time voters. We had to check their Aadhaar cards and addresses and register their names in the electoral list. This was a door-to-door exercise and went on from June to September. On an average, we’d register 30-40 new applicants every day. Some days, the number would near 100,” said Subramaniam.
After September, they were tasked with checking the residential voters’ list. Each member of the team — it was initially 150 — was given four electoral booklets each, with details of more than 800 voters. These had to be verified with the given address, photograph and contact details had to be taken for reference. Besides ensuring the missing photos were submitted, names of those who had died or moved from that residence had to be deleted and thus stated in the list.
“No specific training was provided to us. All we were given was the area to work in. Usually, these were slums where it is difficult to locate and identify each address, as most are incomplete. We have to go showing photographs to people and not everyone wants to help,” said Subramaniam.
Sharma added that often — a previous BLOs botched-up work — either left incomplete due to reassignment, callousness or simply because there’s no supervisor to ensure that a thorough job has been done — leaves residents irked. “When we revisit such slumdwellers, they start shouting and yelling at us. Even pasting the election commission notice is a challenge as the glue provided by the government does not even stick a paper. We have to buy our own,” he said.
Both say that while some staffers — from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and other agencies — were sent back to their parent organisation after their office requested them back, their own school’s letters were ignored. There’s no attendance system either. “We are expected to complete the booklet in a week or fortnight. We do what we can and leave the rest blank,” Sharma said.
*The school needs them*
Kumar, the school’s headmaster, said, Subramaniam is the only school lab assistant and has to manage all three laboratories (physics, chemistry and biology). “His absence was felt while conducting the practical sessions for Board exams of Std X. The teaching faculty had to work extra hours to ensure that the students’ practical exams were not affected.”
Sharma, he said, is the primary section peon and among the three to help the 17 teaching staff with the administering of 1103 students. “There are two clerical staff posts. Both have been vacant for six years for want of civic approval and of the four sanctioned posts of peons, only three are on rolls including Sharma,” he added.
Kumar added that while the norm is that the election office requests the organistion to send a certain number of staff, who are then nominated by the head of department, in this case Subramiam and Sharma were specifically asked for specifically. The letter, by district election officer-168 Chandivli on May 19, 2015, said the institute would be liable for punishment under the Representation Of People Act, 1951, if there was non-compliance.
“The school management is not against putting the staff for doing election work, but if the staff gets engaged for an entire academic year, then it is surely a problem for running the school,” said a senior member of the school administration.
An official from the suburban collector’s office at Bandra said, “We have received the letter from the said school and the same will be put up before the new suburban collector for necessary action.”
*Not done as per book*
A senior official from the election department at Mantralaya said that the state requires 88,000 staff across Maharashtra for conducting electoral work, which is a continuous process. “However, we only have 47,000 staff at present most of them from the revenue department and around 8,000 staff, including non teaching school staff, BMC, sales tax, BEST and other central/state government establishments,” he said.
The officer clarified that an honorarium of R6,000 per year is paid to the staff on either half-yearly or yearly basis for the work. About the case of Subramiam and Sharma, he said, “We will look into this case, this should not be happening at all.”
State Chief Secretary, Swadheen Kshatriya said, “We will set up a mechanism to ensure that BLOs are made to work only for a specified period. Instructions for implementing the same will be passed on to collectors across the state at the earliest. BLOs cannot be used throughout the year; it will cause an adverse affect.”
Nitin Gadre, Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, added that the People Representation Act of 1951 does not expect the election department to have their own field staff, and therefore, it has to depend on staff from other government institutions. However, he clarified that overusing of BLO staff for electoral work is not accepted and will be looked into.
RTI activist and former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, said, “Especially, staffers at education institutes should not be taken away for such a long duration for electoral work. Asking for staff without consent of the institution is illegal use of power. Powers are given to officials are subject to rules and regulations, and no one has unlimited powers, not even the President and the prime minister.” Reported by Mid-Day 17 hours ago.