HYDERABAD: Employees of the renowned Salar Jung Museum (SJM) are protesting against the alleged mismanagement in handling the day-to-day activities in the museum by its administration.

Salar Jung Museum Staff Association (SJMSA) consisting entirely of Class III and IV employees have threatened to bring to halt the functioning of the museum in near future if the administration did not start the process of reforms.

The employees point out that there is a severe staff crunch in SJM due to which the day-to-day working in SJM spirals into chaos. The employees pointed out that the administration has hired `contract workers' who are not committed towards the museums safety.

Tough task

"If something goes wrong on the part of contract workers, the administration is blaming the staffers for it. Maintenance of 43 galleries is a tough task and only seasoned workers with experience can justify the job," said chief patron of SJMSA, Ahmed Ali.

Prior to 2000, SJM had 35 galleries and 260 staffers were responsible for upkeep of the galleries. After expansion in 2000, the number of galleries rose to 43. However, the staffers manning the galleries have gone down from 260 to 151.

"Nobody in the administration is willing to listen and solve these real problems that are effecting the museum. We would submit a memorandum to the Governor and if there is no action, then we have to stop our work and close down the museum," Mr. Ali said.

The recent fire mishap in Salar Jung Museum seems to have touched a raw nerve with the staff workers.

"Those who have not at all worked in the salvage operations were given an increment of Rs. 800 to Rs. 300. We personally undertook the salvage operations and the administration has not even bothered to give us a appreciation letter," said Syed Yousuf, president of SJMSA.

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