AGITATION AGAINST SMART WATCH SYSTEM A SYMBOL OF SLAVERY
Chandigarh (11TH March 2020)- On the call given by the Federation of U.T. Employees & Workers Chandigarh A massive Dharna & Rally was held today 12th March 2020 before the MC Office, Sector 17 Chandigarh against the decision of MC to implement the Smart Watch System in MC and also against exploitation/ retrenchment of Outsource Workers working under MC. The employees of Horticulture, Road, Public Health, Safai Karamchari, Electricity, ICCW, CITCO, Housing Board, MC Manimajra & other departments of UT & MC Participated in the Dharna in a Massive way. Large number of working women were main attraction of the Dharna. 
The Dharna was addressed by Sarv Shri Gopal Datt Joshi General Secretary Federation and National Secretary All India State Government Employee Federation, Raghbir Chand President, Rajinder Katoch & Bhim Sen Senior Vice President (Federation), Krishan Kumar Chaddha President and Om Pal Chawar Gen. Secretary (Safaikaramchari), Dhian Singh & Amrik Singh (Electricity), Harkesh Chand & M. Subramaniyam (Horticulture), P Kamraj & Bish Ram (UT & MC Road), Harpal Singh Chain Singh (Water Supply), Behari Lal (ICCW), Naseeb Singh and Balbir Singh (MC Manimajra), Bhagmal Rana and Manmohan Singh (UT & MC Pensioners Association), Om Parkash & Gurdip Singh (Punjab Board Corporation Mahasangh), Kuldip Singh (CITU) and others leaders of the sister organizations.
The leaders while addressing the Dharna strongly criticize and condemned the MC Authority for partially implementing the decision of Smart Watch System on the employees of Engineering Wing and MOH Wing (Safaikaramchari) and terms it a symbol of Slavery and said that the Smart Watch System adopted for the employees & workers of Roads, Horticulture, Public Health and other wings of Engineering Department MC & Staff working under MOH (Safai Karamchari’s) etc. partially on pick & choose basis ignoring high ups i.e. Senior Officers of MC Engineering Wing & MOH & other’s and said that the Bio-Metric Attendance system is already implemented in Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation Chandigarh since many years, which can be implemented on whole of the employees & officers of MC , instead of implementing the smart watch a new system is being implemented only on some employees partially on pick & choose basis to humiliate some sections of lower employees. If the Biometric system is failed or not operative then smart watch system be implemented to all the officers & Employees from top to bottom instead of pick & choose basis, as this practice will impose extra burden on MC, which is already in financial crunch on one side on the other it is health hazards/harmful to the employees/workers due to high frequency and high radiation system, the symptom of swelling and vomiting arise out in some of the employees particularly in female staff and also doubt to leak the privacy of female
employees/workers as huge numbers of female are working in Engineering and MOH, Even no separate wash rooms and toilets have been provided at their work place, which may be taken in notice also. Moreover the rent of the watches seems highest, which as per news Rs. 18 Lakh per month. The Corporation has no sufficient fund even the salaries of contract/ outsource workers have not been paid for 3-4 months and due to shortage of funds numbers of workers have been retrenched by MC, on the other heavy amount is being spent on watch even inspite of availability of biometric system in Departments concern. It is further pointed out that the watch system issued to the employees individually, the sole responsibilities of charging etc. will rest on the employees/workers and in case of missing /damage the charges i.e. full highest cost will be recovered from low paid employees, which is not genuine and is a step just in case of bonded labour which can be avoided.
The speakers blamed that the Commissioner MC in its meeting held on 27.02.2020, assured the delegation of Federation that a Medical Board on the issue will setup and the decision of Smart Watch will implement to all the officers & officials of MC from top to bottom but the remain to fulfil is commitment. The leaders further said that now the Government of Punjab and Chandigarh Administration stop the using of Biometric System in view of Corona Virus, thus the decision of smart watch may also be stop to adopt uniform policy in the interest of justice. The Dharna also criticize the MC Authority for letting loose to the contractors to loot the outsource workers and demanded to stop the exploitation of the Low paid workers.
Dharna through a special resolution demanded the Chandigarh Administration to implement the decision of Punjab Government reducing the optional retirement age of the employees and further demand to implement Punjab Pay Scales and Service conditions to UT employees in toto.
During the Dharna Home Secretary UT cum Secretary Local Government called the delegation for discussing, a memorandum was submitted to him for taking positive decision. Further the delegation of Federation will meet Hon’ble Advisor to the Administration on 16.03.2020 if the decision of Smart Watch will not be withdrawn after that the Working Committee of Federation will announce that action of agitation.
