₹7,500 Honorarium for 24 Hour Service: Aided Hostel Employees Seek Justice

Delegation led by MLC Abhijit Vanjari meets Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat; demands revision of honorarium and service conditions

Nagpur, September 1: The long pending issue of low honorarium and service conditions of employees working in aided hostels under the Maharashtra Government’s Social Justice and Special Assistance Department has once again come into focus. Hostel management representatives and employees have urged the government to review their remuneration and service conditions, pointing out that employees are required to shoulder responsibilities related to students’ food, safety, maintenance and day to day care, often requiring round the clock availability.

A delegation of hostel management representatives and employees, led by Maharashtra Legislative Council Member Abhijit Vanjari, met Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat and submitted a memorandum seeking government intervention in the matter. The delegation placed before the minister issues concerning the existing honorarium, service conditions and provisions of the 1998 Government Resolution governing hostel employees.

According to information submitted by the delegation, 2,388 aided hostels are being operated across Maharashtra through voluntary organisations under the Social Justice Department for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and other backward sections. The memorandum states that 8,104 employees are engaged in the functioning of these hostels, including 2,388 superintendents, 2,858 cooks, 2,388 watchmen and 470 helpers.

The delegation stated that the employees are currently being paid honorarium according to the revised rates fixed in June 2021. A hostel superintendent receives ₹10,000 per month, while a cook receives ₹8,500. Watchmen and helpers receive ₹7,500 per month each.

The representatives argued that the honorarium does not correspond with the nature of duties performed by the employees. Since the hostels provide residential facilities to students, employees are involved in food arrangements, maintenance, security and other day to day responsibilities. The delegation therefore sought a comprehensive review of the honorarium structure, taking into consideration the workload, responsibilities and years of service of the employees.

The delegation also raised the issue of an alleged disparity in remuneration between employees of aided hostels and contractual employees working in government-operated hostels. According to the hostel management representatives, contractual employees engaged in government run hostels are receiving remuneration that is reportedly two to three times higher than the honorarium paid to employees in aided hostels.

The representatives said that many employees in aided hostels have been serving for several years, but their honorarium has not increased in proportion to their experience and responsibilities. They urged the government to examine the alleged disparity and take appropriate steps to ensure fair remuneration.

Another major demand concerned the 1998 Government Resolution governing the service conditions of hostel employees. The delegation sought a review of the provisions, stating that the hostel system, students’ requirements and the responsibilities of employees have changed over the years. It demanded that the existing provisions be revised in accordance with present day requirements.

The delegation further demanded that employees working in aided hostels be brought under a regular pay scale, similar to government employees, or that their honorarium be substantially increased. It also sought due consideration for the experience and length of service of employees who have been working in the hostel system for several years.

The memorandum submitted by the delegation led by MLC Abhijit Vanjari to Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat has brought renewed attention to the issue. Employees and hostel management representatives across the State are now awaiting the government’s response and a decision on their long pending demands.

Shankar Savarkar, Vidarbha President, Maharashtra State Hostel Directors, Nagpur, along with Sunil Kubde, Lemangi Meshram, Purushottam Bhaisare, Maroti Atram, Hansraj Meshram, Gangadhar Meshram and hostel employee Prithviraj Borkar, were present during the meeting.