Fire fighters still wait for their share of largesse

Employees of the AMC have reason to be satisfied with their lot following the increase in their wages, as per the recommendation of the sixth pay commission. Even daily wagers, contract conductors and drivers, temporary and link workers got an increment recently.

But there's one category of workers who have not seen upward revision in their pay. And they are the ones who perform the riskiest of jobs in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

Fire brigade volunteers, who provide critical services to the civic body, are still waiting for an increment. There are around 300 of them working with the fire and emergency services department of the AMC — and they are paid Rs200 per day. And these are the people who have to sometimes put their lives on the line while going into action at the time of fire and other accidents, besides doing petty jobs in the corporation.

Moreover, the volunteers work a 12-hour shift on a routine day which can go up in case of a fire or an emergency. Some of the volunteers have been appointed as security guards at the main office of AMC at Danapith, while others have been posted at other offices and hospitals of AMC.

Being daily wagers, they do not even get a weekly off. This results in burnout for many of them.

"There is an off-day in the civic body offices on public holidays and second and fourth Saturdays of the month, but we are not given any off. We are required to work at the fire station on these days," said one of the volunteers on condition of anonymity. The volunteers play an active role during fires, riots and other incidents and are most vulnerable to accidents. However, there is no group insurance for them, resulting in their demoralisation.

"We are taking risks to save people's lives and property, but there is no provision for compensation in case of permanent disability or death," said a volunteer.

"One of our colleagues lost his finger in the presence of a higher official, but he was not given any compensation by the civic body. Moreover, the volunteers do not receive any kind of payment in case they fall sick and cannot attend their duties."

Sources in the fire department said that around 60% of the permanent posts in various capacities are vacant. "The fire and emergency department will not be able to work efficiently without the volunteers," sources said. 

MF Dastoor, chief fire officer of fire and emergency department of AMC, said that these people work as volunteers and not employees of the civic body. "Till the higher authorities don't take a decision regarding increase in their honorarium, nothing can be done in this regard," he said.

The sources in the fire department ask, if salaries of link workers can be increased then why not those of volunteers? "The issue is a political one — and nothing else," said a source, in a despairing tone.