Unpaid sanitation workers’ salaries trigger scrutiny of Dimapur Municipal Council’s fund management, transparency and accountability, says DUCCF.
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DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has come under severe scrutiny over transparency and accountability in the utilisation of funds following a protest by sanitation workers over unpaid salaries.
Briefing media persons at Duncan community hall on Saturday, officials of the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) demanded that the public be informed about the utilisation of municipal funds.
To ensure accountability, the federation said that every tax collection must be supported by a proper receipt bearing the collector’s signature, failing which the public should not entertain such collections.
The DUCCF also stated that all tax collections should be brought under a common pool and subsequently allocated to different branches for salaries and developmental works. In this context, it questioned whether the collected revenue was actually reaching the municipal treasury.
The federation strongly opposed the outsourcing of tax collection to private individuals, alleging that a major portion of the benefits was being compromised. Instead, citing the availability of adequate manpower, it suggested that tax collection be carried out directly by DMC staff.
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Asserting that the DMC, as the guardian of the town, is responsible for the well-being of its citizens, the DUCCF said the councillors concerned must discharge their duties sincerely. It also suggested rotation of portfolios among councillors for more effective implementation of civic works.
Pointing out that the municipal council has completed two years in office since the urban local body elections, the federation said that the civic body should now be able to stand on its own feet, rather than depending solely on the state government.
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Citing several avenues for revenue generation, the DUCCF maintained that there should be no shortage of funds to pay employees’ salaries. To substantiate its claim, it stated that the household sanitation fee had been enhanced at the request of DMC.
In a sharp critique, the federation alleged that governance was better prior to the formation of the current municipal council. It also referred to the rising prices of vegetables in Dimapur, even during peak seasons, compared to neighbouring Assam, and called upon elected members to monitor and regulate the prices of essential commodities.
The DUCCF further urged the state government to frame service rules for urban local bodies to ensure checks and balances and enhance transparency and accountability.
Expressing solidarity with the aggrieved sanitation workers, the federation said that the workers were being subjected to hardship due to non-payment of salaries.
While underlining the importance of maintaining cleanliness in the town, it appealed to the workers to exercise patience and continue performing their duties.
Advocating overall growth and development of Dimapur, the DUCCF urged elected members to revisit the promises made in their election manifesto.
Meanwhile, the federation appealed to the public to maintain civic sense, keep the town clean and dispose of waste only at designated locations.