Pune municipal bonus payments for civic employees and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) staff remain undecided as the Legislative Council election model code of conduct is scheduled to remain in force until October 31, creating a tight administrative window before Diwali.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has not yet issued its annual circular announcing the amount and payment schedule for the bonus or ex-gratia grant. Employees are waiting for clarity as Diwali is due to begin on November 5 and the payment is generally used for festival purchases, household expenses and other financial planning.
According to the report, Pune Municipal Corporation employees received an ex-gratia payment last year calculated at 8.33 per cent of basic pay and dearness allowance, along with an additional payment of Rs 25,000. The amount approved for this year has not been announced.
The decision has been complicated by the election code of conduct. The civic administration is expected to prepare a proposal and seek the necessary approvals, but it must first establish whether permission can be obtained to process the payment during the restricted period. One possible route is to send the proposal through the district collector to the divisional commissioner for approval.
The issue is also linked to the timing of administrative discussions. Municipal Commissioner Navalkishor Ram is expected to discuss the matter after returning from a visit to Germany. A further discussion with the commissioner is scheduled for Monday, according to Ulka Kalskar, the municipal corporation’s accounting and finance officer, as reported by Sakal.
The proposed payment would have a substantial impact on the municipal budget. The corporation has around 18,000 employees, and the estimated financial burden of the bonus and ex-gratia payment is between Rs 150 crore and Rs 175 crore. This makes the decision both a staff payment issue and a significant municipal expenditure requiring formal approval.
PMPML employees are covered through a separate process. Around Rs 20 crore is generally provided for their bonus through a standing committee resolution. However, the election code means that the decision cannot be taken in a standing committee meeting at present, and guidance will be required on how the payment can be approved.
Kalskar said the corporation had a provision of approximately Rs 150 crore to Rs 175 crore for the bonus and that guidance would be sought because the election code was in force. The next step is therefore a determination of the applicable approval process, followed by consideration of the proposal by the competent authorities.
