Employees from ministers’ chambers forced to eat in corridors outside their offices in Vidhan Bhavan !

Plastic water bottles and garbage strewn across the corridors
Used plates, bags and leaf plates with leftover food lying in the corridor itself!

Lunch boxes and other items kept outside a minister’s cabin in Vidhan Bhavan

Sanatan Prabhat Representative: Mr Pritam Nachankar

Mumbai, 15 March (News) – The Maharashtra Legislature has a distinct identity and reputation across the country. Compared to many other States, greater discipline is seen in the functioning of the Maharashtra Legislature. However, in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, employees, visitors and party workers are forced to eat meals and snacks in the corridors outside ministers’ chambers.

On the first floor of Vidhan Bhavan, there is constant movement outside ministers’ chambers by ministers, administrative officers and staff, security guards and political office bearers. Amidst this human traffic, employees are often seen placing their lunch boxes on the railing along the corridor and eating their meals there. This has become a common sight during the Assembly session, and it appears that even the administration has grown accustomed to it. As a result, the Legislature administration has been ignoring the need to designate a proper place for these employees to have their meals and snacks and to maintain discipline in the system.

Food is ordered from outside for employees working in ministers’ chambers; however, these chambers are always crowded with political and office functionaries. Compared to the size of the crowd, the chambers are not spacious. Due to the lack of space inside the chambers, employees are forced to step out into the corridor to have their snacks and meals.

(Such is the deplorable situation !)

Plastic water bottles are found scattered in ministers’ chambers and corridors.
In some places, bags containing used plates after meals are left in the corridors themselves.
On the upper floors, used plates are sometimes left in the open at the corners of staircases.
At times, leaf plates containing leftover food are also found lying along the corridors outside ministers’ chambers.

Permanent solution necessary!

The lack of space inside the chambers is a reality; however, ignoring the issue is not appropriate. The administration needs to examine what permanent measures can be implemented to resolve the problem. In the Vidhan Bhavan at Nagpur, a separate hall has been made available for employees to have their meals. Similarly, the administration needs to consider whether a room can be reserved for employees to eat their meals or whether some other arrangement can be made.

Just as crowd control is implemented, the dining system also needs regulation!

Considering the large crowds during Assembly sessions and the strain it places on the security system, several members of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council have raised this issue repeatedly in the two Houses. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has also issued instructions in this regard. As a result, unnecessary crowds in Vidhan Bhavan during the sessions have been largely brought under control. In the same way, there is a need to regulate the dining arrangements in Vidhan Bhavan.

Need to study the dining arrangements!

There is a glass restaurant in the Vidhan Bhavan premises meant for ministers and other dignitaries, though others can also have meals or snacks there. Considering the large crowds, a temporary pandal has also been erected within the premises to provide meal arrangements for security personnel and other administrative staff. Food arrangements are also available in the party offices of Shiv Sena and BJP, where some employees and office bearers have their meals.

Despite arrangements for dining at so many places, overcrowding and uncleanliness continue to be seen. Therefore, it is being said that the administration needs to study the situation and consider creating a separate dining arrangement in the Vidhan Bhavan premises during Assembly sessions.

Vidhan Bhavan is the State’s main administrative building. Proper cleanliness must be maintained there. Employees, too, must observe self-discipline. People, therefore, feel that the legislative administration should frame proper rules and bring discipline to the system.