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One-rupee idea under fire

Juhu residents have been asked to pay Re1 everyday to fund their corporator’s office expenses. Speak Up captures a debate that brings out BMC’s miserly ways.

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Juhu residents have reportedly been requested to pay Re1 everyday to fund their corporator’s office expenses. Speak Up captures the rupee-a-day debate that brings to fore the BMC’s miserly ways.

First person

Don’t know how others manage

Currently I have an office, a car, a telephone and other administrative facilities as I am the chairman of the Advance Locality Management (ALM) for K-ward for a year. But that will be only for this year, after which I will hold office as a corporator for the next four years. Then I won't have these facilities, not even an office.

I don't want to turn my home into an office. Hence, I will need to rent a place in Juhu. This will cost around Rs14,000. To hire a personal assistant will be another Rs5,000 to Rs8,000. Adding up the stationary cost and a peon's salary, will add up to around Rs25,000 per month. I cannot pay this amount out my pocket when I get an allowance of a mere Rs4,000 with other benefits amounting to another Rs600.

Other candidates who belong to a party don't suffer as me because the party takes care of these necessities for them. Other independent candidates must be spending their own money. Hence Re1 each from every voter in Juhu is just an option a few members suggested. Nothing has been finalised yet. There could be other ways to sort this issue. I still have another year. Anyway, none of this amount will be for my personal use.

Ideally, the corporation should provide all its corporators with an office and other necessities. — Adolf D'Souza. Municipal Corporator

Travel allowance to corporators

The BMC should provide stationary and travel allowance to corporators. MLAs get a lot of benefits; corporators should benefit too. However, it is not right of a corporator to ask citizens for money.” — Vidya Thakur. Deputy Mayor

Pay if you want work done

It is shocking that the law compels corporators into malpractices because of the ridiculous levels of their remuneration, which is meant to cover their cost of operation.  The cost of operating the office, the costs incurred by the process of communication with the citizens of that ward, etc are not properly taken care of.

Under the BMC Act of 1888, when corporators were elected they were eminent citizens who had private means and  resources to spare. This is no longer the case today. We need a reality check.

It's only logical that those who are demanding better services from officials should not pay a pittance for getting service of the right quality. Adolf D’Souza is the kind of corporator who will deliver that service. I wholeheartedly agree with him. — Gerson da Cunha. Convenor, Action for good Governance and Networking in India

Juhu speak

Bravo Mr D'Souza

Hats off to Adolf D'Souza for coming up with such an innovative idea to make up for insufficient funds. It is not corruption and neither is it asking for too much.
Re1  is not such a big sum, but what if all government officials start asking for help from the public. We should stop paying taxes and start paying the government employees directly. This way, we can be their boss and corruption may reduce. He should be lauded for this wonderful idea. — Balkrishnan Menon

I am not going to pay

Adolf D'Souza should have approached the BMC first rather than approaching voters from his ward. What if all corporators followed his example and asked citizens for financial help? What are we paying taxes for? This is the corporator’s new method to earn extra money.

I am definitely not paying. I'd much rather give it to the hungry and poor and rest assured that my money is helping someone. Let D’Souza and the BMC
resolve the matter among themselves. — Mitesh Shah. Juhu

Ask BMC, not us

How did other independent corporators before Adolf D'Souza manage their office? If the BMC really underpays its people, how come none of the corporators have raised their voice yet?

I don’t mind paying the corporator Re1 a day, as it is hardly going to burn a hole in my pocket. But it's unwise on the corporator’s part to ask funds from people instead of the BMC. — Candy Cornello

He’s asking for a bit too much

Mr D'Souza is abusing democracy by asking Juhu voters for help. Why did he take up the job if he was not capable of delivering? The BMC must be having certain standard of payments that were followed by corporators till date. How come no other corporator complained?

Re1 is a paltry sum. But what is the guarantee that he won't take bribes apart from this money he will 'collect' from us? If I have my math right, D'Souza is asking for a bit too much than actually needed. If the BMC can't pay them for their services, they should seek employment elsewhere. — Mauren D ’Souza

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