Double good news for BMC employees before Diwali: Along with salary, they will get Diwali bonus of up to ₹ 33,000; Know when the money will be credited

Mumbai The festival of Diwali has brought double the happiness this time for more than 1.25 lakh employees, health workers and teachers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body. Maharashtra government and BMC administration have officially announced the much-awaited Diwali Bonus (Saguti) for Municipal Corporation employees after a joint review meeting. This year, it has been agreed to give a lump sum Diwali ex-gratia bonus of up to ₹ 33,000 to BMC employees. This amount represents a significant increase compared to the bonus given last year, which has caused great enthusiasm among everyone from sanitation workers to administrative officers, doctors, nurses and teachers of municipal schools.

Keeping in mind the shopping and happiness of the family during the festive season, the BMC Commissioner and Administrator have given clear instructions to the Finance Department that payment of bonus and current month’s salary should be ensured before the Diwali festival under any circumstances.

• Bonus credit date: According to Finance Department officials, the amount of Diwali bonus in the bank accounts of all employees. 4 to 5 days before Diwali The amount will be deposited directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

• Advance Salary: Generally, the monthly salary for the month of October, which is received on the last day or first of the month, will also be preponed and credited to the accounts along with the bonus.

• This means that if the employees get salary and bonus together this month, a huge amount of around ₹ 60,000 to ₹ 1,00,000 will be visible in their bank balance in lump sum.

As per the guidelines issued by the BMC administration, the bonus rates for various cadres and affiliated undertakings of the Municipal Corporation have been determined as follows:

For the past few weeks, Mumbai Municipal Workers Union, Municipal Engineers Association and other employee organizations were demanding a Diwali bonus of ₹35,000 to ₹40,000, citing rising inflation. The unions argued that since the Covid period, the employees have worked tirelessly in handling heavy monsoon waterlogging, road repairs and round-the-clock civic management of Mumbai. Appreciating the contribution of the employees, in the marathon meeting held with the Chief Minister and the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, the final approval was given on the historic package of ₹ 33,000, which the unions have also welcomed as satisfactory.

Apart from BMC employees, there was also doubt over the bonus for the employees of the loss-making BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) undertaking for a long time. The Municipal Corporation Administration has reiterated its resolve to ensure that the Diwali of BEST employees is not wasted and has decided to issue a special financial grant for this. Under this, timely bonus payment to more than 40,000 employees of BEST is also being ensured.

Distribution of this ex-gratia amount to more than 1.25 lakh employees by BMC, the municipal corporation with the country’s largest budget, will put an additional financial burden of about ₹350 crore to ₹400 crore on the exchequer. Officials say this expenditure is in recognition of the welfare of the employees and their dedication. Due to transfer of huge amount of money in the accounts just before Diwali, there will be a huge surge in festive shopping in the retail markets, electronics shops and bullion markets of Mumbai.