No study leave for safai karamchari for higher studies
12 Feb, 2013Sunil Yadav, a safai karamchari in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) managed to get enrolled on his third attempt into the Masters (Globalisation and Labour) course of two years of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
As the a conservancy worker’s application for the study leave got no reply from the authorities, his course mates filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to know the definition of the term "employee" and whether who were entitled for a sabbatical study leave. In the reply, the PIO of the D Ward of BMC has stated that study tour is allowed if the academic course is connected with the employee’s duty in the corporation or if it is in public interest which implies that a conservancy worker is not eligible for study leave.
Orders from the National Commission of Safai Karamcharis to expedite the grant of leave to the employee failing which his enrollment might be cancelled by the institute has not evoked a positive response from the corporation. Yadav holds a double Masters degree and diploma in social work and has also been shortlisted for a student exchange programme at the University of Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg. But his name would only be processed if the BMC allows him to travel to South Africa to continue with his education.