4 months on, disabled Mumbai fire brigade officer still awaits his dues

Vishwajeet Nikam, retired Mumbai Fire Brigade Officer, at his house in Mahalaxmi

The future for a retired disabled Mumbai Fire Brigade Officer looks uncertain as he awaits his full and final settlement even after four months of his retirement. He is now struggling to meet his monthly medical expenses and pay allowance to his male attendants. mid-day in its article dated February 25 had written about Vishwajeet Nikam, 58, who lost a limb while in service 14 years ago. He claims there was no financial help to cover the cost of treatment, or promotion since then. Son of late chief fire officer VB Nikam, Nikam worked as an Assistant Divisional Fire officer for 24 years when tragedy struck on October 6, 2008.

Had to move out of quarters

Nikam had sustained a serious spinal cord injury, also lost one of his limbs, while in service after a tree fell on his leg 14 years ago, leaving him wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. The department had also made him sign an affidavit stating that he would vacate his official residential quarter at Byculla HQ, within three months of his retirement, which ended on February 28.

Speaking to mid-day, Nikam said, "As per the BMC norms, I moved out of my residential quarter, and vacated the premises on February 28. I shifted to an 800 sq feet house that was owned by my late father at a private residential building at Mahalaxmi. It will be nearly four months since my retirement, I am still awaiting my rightful claims." Nikam added, "At the fire quarters, I could easily get help for any emergency round the clock. Today, I cannot stay without having attendants for 24 hours, especially when my wife and son are away during the daytime."

Meeting expenses

Nikam said, "I have fixed monthly expenses, which include a whopping R6,000 for electricity usage, R1,400 per day (two attendants) payment, medicines and adult diapers Rs 5,000 approximate and other utility services, other than son's education. I could have managed to clear all these dues, had I got my dues cleared at least a month after my retirement."

Gratuity, PF still not cleared

Nikam also sighted a circular from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, Government of India dated July 17, 2020, which states, "The Pay and Accounts office shall consider the case on the basis of details of last emoluments and length of qualifying services indicated by the Head of Office and release the provisional pension and provisional gratuity in the same manner as pay and allowances of the establishment are paid." "So, when the above directives are already in place, the department head could have ensured that the provisional pension and gratuity are cleared by them. Moreover, the provident fund hasn't even been processed," said Nikam

Other side of the story

Attempts to contact Ramesh Pawar, Joint Municipal Commissioner (Improvement), did not yield any result. H D Parab, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade said, "I have made it a part of my weekly duty to check the status and pursue the case of Nikam. I am also directed by my superiors in BMC to ensure that the dues of Nikam get cleared at the earliest. We must understand that the process of settling dues takes some time, as the entire payment (gratuity, leave encashment, provident fund etc) are released at the same time. Moreover, Nikam only vacated his official quarters on the last day of February. Only once the fire department gets the vacant possession of the quarters, it is intimated to concerned sections, so that they do not deduct any payment for overstaying. I am confident that his dues will be cleared at the earliest." Nikam added, "I will be waiting for this month, before I decide to personally meet the civic chief and raise my concern, failing which I will be compelled to take the judicial assistance."