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Those days, they cared
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There was a time when the municipality cared its employees as well as the public
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FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS During the 1912 floods, the municipality not just helped people recover household articles but also arranged special police guards to prevent theft and accidents
Today the citizens of Bangalore are equipped with several facilities such as 24-hour helplines, direct access to the chief officers of every public service department, the ambulance, fire service, councillors, MLAs and police forces, all at our beck and call. But, as we all know, these services hardly ever live up to our expectations even during times of distress. But there was a past to Bangalore, a past that could speak of genuine concern for its people. A 1912 episode is an eye-opener to all those associated with the civic administration of the city. On September 28, 1912, heavy rains lashed the city throwing its infrastructure completely out of gear. Many old houses in Siddikatta, Gundopanth's street, Ranasingpet and other low-lying parts were inundated due to the downpour. The situation was serious and people had to be provided shelter and food on an emergency footing. The Municipality rendered prompt help to all the victims by accommodating them in choultries, by employing coolies to assist people in distress. They not just helped them recover their household articles, but had also arranged special police guards to prevent theft and accidents. For about six days in four different venues feeding arrangements were made for the rain victims. Steps were taken to allot sites in safe localities and also release adequate compensation to enable them build houses.
Co-operative society
This story is not simply that of a City Municipal Corporation that cared for its people, but of a CMC that was also concerned about its employees. Most municipal workers took to drink and ran up huge debts. Some of them even absconded when they discovered they were unable to clear their debts. To ameliorate their condition, the City Municipal Employees Cooperative Society was set up by a considerate Health Officer, R. Subba Rao, in January 1914. About 140 persons became its members by buying a share worth Rs. 5, which could be paid in monthly instalments of eight annas. The Municipal Council also gave a donation of Rs.1,000 to the society.
During the Second World War, when prices of foodgrains rose, the Municipality decided to open depots to sell subsidised grains on an experimental basis. As the scavengers were hit badly due to the rise in the prices of foodgrains, the Municipality distributing ragi to them every week through the municipal grain depot in 1944. Though it was a benevolent municipality, in February 1944, when the sweepers went on strike demanding an increase in wages, it sought the services of 87 sweepers and supervisory staff from Mysore to sweep the streets of Bangalore.
Like today, even then the councillors would change laws as per the situation. In March 1927, the municipality began to collect a fee of three paise for each bicycle parked at the cycle stand in the city market and had appointed a peon to collect the fees. But on February 14, 1928, the Councillors resolved that the levy be abolished. However, they decided to continue the services of the peon to keep a watch over the cycles in the stand.
There is yet another instance when the municipality had to change its law. In February 1901, the Municipal School Committee decided to abolish the post of Tamil teacher in the Municipal English school. As some tax payers of the city protested against this move, the municipal authorities decided to go through the statistics of the regional languages taught in the city's municipal schools. Statistics revealed that students learning Telugu was far less when compared to those learning Tamil, but Telugu continued to be part of the curriculum.
S. SRINIVAS
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