Baramulla: A day after Municipal Committee Baramulla (MCB) employees vandalized the carts of street-vendors in Baramulla town, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir on Tuesday directed Executive Officer MC Baramulla to take against the erring employees, following which four of them were placed under suspension.
Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir vide letter no DULB/363-66 dated 04-01-2021 directed Executive Officer MC Baramulla to take action against employees who acted “inhumanly” against the street vendors. He also asked Executive Officer Baramulla to recover the losses suffered by the vendors from the employees responsible for targeting them.
“The video circulated on the social media, wherein the employees of Municipal Council Baramulla were seen destroying the articles/items being sold by the street-vendors on their vending cars. The scene was quite painful as the concerned staff of the Municipal Council has acted inhumanly with the street vendors. These kind of practices are bringing bad name to the MC in particular and department as a whole. I am conveying a serious displeasure on this action of the Municipal Council Baramulla,” the letter reads.
“The action of the employees was criticized by one and all as the poor vendors had suffered losses. Humane approach should have been adopted to ensure vendors don’t encroach pavements or roads,” the letter of Director ULB reads.
“You are, therefore, directed to recover the losses suffered by these vendors from the concerned erring staff involved in such inhuman act and compensate the vendors accordingly. Besides, all the concerned staff involved in the brutal action shall immediately be placed under suspension and relieved to this Directorate by today and a detailed report in the matter be furnished to this through return mail,” the order reads.
It is pertinent to mention here that yesterday MC Baramulla employees were caught on video harassing and toppling the carts of street-vendors in Baramulla, drawing criticism from the general public.
Later, Executive Officer Municipal Council Baramulla following directions of Director ULB issued an order bearing No. MC/Bla/Estt/2022/ 266o-64 dated 04-01-2021 in which four erring officials were suspended with immediate effect for their inhuman behaviour and vandalizing carts of poor street-vendors.
“Taking cognizance of the viral video clip streamed on social media and adhering to the directions of Director, Urban Local Bodies Kashmir conveyed vide letter No: DULB/G/363-66 dated:-04-01-2022, the following involved officials are hereby paced under suspension with immediate effect and attached to the Office of Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Habitat Centre, Bemina, Srinagar,” the order reads.
The officials include Khilaf-warzi Assistant Sheikh Sajad Parvaiz, Demolition Guard Faizan Akbar Zunga, Sanitary Supervisor Sajad Ahmad Khanday, and Cleaner Nazir Ahmad Bhat.
The Chairman, Municipal Council Baramulla, Touseef Raina had said that the cart vendors were warned several times in the past week and action against them was necessary. He, however, also said that the way employees of MC Baramulla took action against the cart vendors is unjustified.
He reached out to the street-vendors and assured them that their losses will be compensated but they have to cooperate with the MCB.
