According to an official from the civic body's security department, there is a provision of 6,000 security personnel in the BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is facing acute shortage of security personnel. As a result, most of the civic-run hospitals, gardens and schools do not have enough security personnel deputed. The shortage of security guards at hospitals is despite a clear directive from the state government following Bombay High Court order.
According to an official from the civic body's security department, there is a provision of 6,000 security personnel in the BMC. But the corporation has around 4,300 personnel, including guards hired from private agency.
According to BMC rules, nearly 4,000 posts are to be filled by its own security personnel, while the remaining is to be procured from private agencies. "Of BMC's own 4,000 security personnel, there are around 1200 posts are vacant," said an official from the security department. Similarly, only 1,500 private guards have been hired, leaving a shortfall of 500.
Six months ago, civic doctors went on a mass strike following a number of attacks on medical staff in the city as well as across the state. The Bombay High Court had then directed the state to provide security to doctors. The BMC had then roped in around 400 security personnel from Maharashtra State Security Board for major civic hospitals and assured to deploy 300 more guards.
However, the security personnel went on a strike due to their own issues with the MSCC. Currently, only 80 security personnel from MSCC are deputed at different civic hospitals. While the BMC has deputed its own security at hospital, the numbers are enough.
"The BMC is not keen to take security personnel from private agency as the civic body had received several complaints in the past. Even private agencies security personnel are not fit upto the mark," said the official. Nearly a month ago, the civic body removed around 200 private guards after they were found unfit. "Some of the security personnel were too old to be deputed in hospital or any other places."
The BMC has even asked its contractors maintaining civic gardens to depute their guards at the open spaces.
A senior civic official said they trying to sort out the security issue. "We hope to get additional security from the MSSC soon."
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 "Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation")
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