Looking Beyond Temporary Fixes: On Dimapur Municipal Council Salary Crisis

The Dimapur Municipal Council Employees’ Welfare Union (DMCEWU) has called off its “No Pay, No Work” agitation after the DMC assured to meet its three key demands -- clearance of pending salaries, timely disbursal of employee benefits and proper deployment of staff in official duties – but the issue is likely to recur in the absence of a permanent solution. This is not the first time DMC employees, including sanitation workers, have staged protests over delays in the payment of salaries, and it may not be the last. The municipal council seems to be trapped in perpetual financial crisis for reasons best known to them, and the last nail in the coffin came from the state government’s order to close all police check gates to curb illegal tax collection. Amid this gloom, the reinstatement of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in three municipal councils and 22 town councils of Nagaland last year offered a glimmer of hope that basic civic amenities like water supply, sanitation, drainage systems, roads, etc. would be significantly enhanced and that grant-in-aid from the state and central governments would improve the financial health of these self-governing administrative units. On top of this, local bodies are also allowed to levy more than a dozen taxes under the Municipal Act. The citizens were told that much of the inconveniences they face would be addressed with the reinstatement of ULBs, as the central government would infuse funds for various public amenities and infrastructure. But the DMC is still in a mess even after more than a year since the elected councillors occupied the office, raising more questions than answers. Are the central and state governments not providing the required funds to ULBs? Is the civic body misappropriating funds that it is unable to pay employees’ salaries?

To effectively carry out their functions and development works, local bodies need funds. Now that elected representatives are governing these bodies in the state, the centre should release adequate funds and on time. It may be mentioned that the state government had approved the release of INR 36 crore for all ULBs last year. In the meantime, these bodies should make their financial matters, including budgeting processes, transparent. As for the DMC, what seems to be required to clear the dirt accumulated over the years is a major reform. The current crisis could also be related to various factors, including overstaffing, which could result in eating up a chunk of its revenue. The authorities should look beyond quick temporary fixes and come up with a mechanism to solve the recurring salary issue once and for all. They should not forget that the employees are its hands and feet, as was witnessed during the cease-work protest. Sanitation workers also should be provided with safety gear, including gloves, masks, boots, etc., to protect from various hazards. This is crucial for their well-being.