Temporary staff complain of reduced and delayed salary

“Even as the state is on a spree announcing cash reliefs for workers in the unorganised sector, the complaints of relief not getting credited and salaries for the COVID-19 volunteers have started mushrooming. There is poor coordination by the local bodies particularly in Chennai and we are attending to it,” said an official source adding that there are also technical glitches as there are mistakes in the submitted bank account details.

Further banks are also operating with limited staff delaying the relief and payment exercises, the official said adding that the issues are being attended.

Meanwhile, about 80 coronavirus volunteers, mostly youngsters, appointed by the Corporation to take up health parameter survey in containment and non-containment areas turned up at the corporation ward office as salaries are not paid.

“Most of us were youngsters and we took up the survey work after the Chennai Corporation officials promised Rs 15,000 as monthly salaries. Some of us are graduates and college students. But now the officials are dragging our salaries and in some cases, where salaries are credited there are deductions without any explanation,” said a coronavirus volunteer in Saidapet constituency wishing not to be named.

Saidapet legislator M Subramanian said that he would take up the issue with the Corporation officials seeking immediate payment for the coronavirus volunteers. These youngsters braved against the virus outbreak and delaying their salaries is inhumane, the legislator said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister in a statement said that the handloom weavers who are not members of the Tamil Nadu Handloom and Handloom Silk Weaving Workers Welfare Board would also be given Rs 2,000 as relief. The state has already ordered disbursal of Rs 2,000 in two instalments to 1,03,343 handloom weavers who are members of the welfare board.