City’s corporators want free BEST ride, medical benefits

Seeking to give themselves a farewell gift, corporators plan to milk the loss-making Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST).

A notice of motion by Shiv Sena corporator advocate Miraj Shaikh has been moved, asking that ex-corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) be allowed to travel by bus for free. Significantly, the term of the present corporators shall come to an end in two months from now.

The motion will be discussed in the House of the civic body on November 18 and is expected to sail through as it concerns all corporators. This, however, is just the start, as the corporators also want free medical benefits. Their reasoning: If ex-MLAs and MPs get such benefits, then why not corporators

Mr Shaikh confirmed that his motion has been put on the agenda of the House. “I have sought this concession for ex-corporators because it is required. We have corporators who still take the bus and I know for a fact that former mayor Mahadeo Devale still travels by bus. Corporators get an honorarium of Rs 10,000, which is too small an amount; hence such benefits are needed,” said Mr Shaikh.

“A corporator travels more than any MP or MLA while he too is a public representative, so why shouldn’t benefits be given to corporators,” he asked.

Corporators are also seeking health benefits akin to those of MPs and MLAs. “An MP or MLA gets medical benefits even after retirement. I have seen MLAs reimbursing medical claims, not only for themselves but also for their families,” said Mr Shaikh.

Another corporator praised the move and said the proposal would sail through on November 18 because not every corporator is rich. “There are many corporator who use public transport and hence such moves are welcome,” said the corporator.

Around 10 per cent of 232 (227 elected and 5 nominated) corporators use buses,” said Mr Shaikh.