Without pay for 3 months, retired disabled Mumbai fire officer told to vacate quarters too

Vishwajeet Nikam at his quarters in Byculla, which he has to vacate by this weekend

A retired disabled Mumbai Fire Bridge Officer, whose pleas to get his retirement dues cleared has fallen into deaf ears, is looking at an uncertain future as the day to vacate his official quarters is approaching fast. This is amid his difficulty to meet the expenses for his monthly medicine and attendant's allowances as he has not received any payment since his retirement three months ago.

The worst is that if the officer, Vishwajeet Nikam, 58, fails to vacate the quarters at Byculla by this week, his gratuity payment will be withheld and he will also have to pay exorbitant rent to the corporation for overstaying in the official quarters. The department has allegedly made Nikam, who was rendered wheelchair-bound after sustaining serious spinal cord injury and losing a limb while in service 14 years ago, sign an affidavit stating that he would vacate the quarters within three months of his retirement.

Nikam, who retired on Nov 30, 2021, claimed he was not given promotion due to his disability

He said, "I will move to my late father's house near Mahalakshmi. If I do not vacate the quarters, as per norms, the department has the right to withhold my gratuity dues and even charge me a hefty rent, for overstaying."

No payment

Nikam said, "This has come as a surprise to me after serving the department for 33 long years. I retired on November 30, 2021. Usually it is a practice that some part of the dues get cleared on the day of retirement, but I was not fortunate to get any such payment."

He added, "I thought the delay was due to the ongoing audit work. However, my worries increased as days passed. Despite assurance from my superiors, by this weekend three months would have passed since my retirement, and I have no source of income to meet the mounting medical bills, attendants' payment and my son's education."

Since January, this year, Nikam has written several letters to his superiors, explaining his financial and personal condition. One such letter to the chief fire officer of Mumbai Fire Brigade dated January 24 read, "It is disturbing that after a long and sincere service of over 33 years, I have to suffer by not even getting dues worth lakhs, as well as the provisional / temporary pension, which is due to me since last three months."

Nikam told mid-day, "Apart from the pension, the provident fund dues, balance leave encashment, gratuity etc which are my legitimate rights are also not cleared. If all my dues are taken into consideration, I am entitled for a decent sum which could help me to take care of my monthly medical and even future expenses as my monthly pension would be as per the seventh pay commission slab rates."

"I am already facing comorbid health conditions like diabetes and blood pressure other than being a handicapped. I was planning to save my retirement emoluments, so that I could continue to lead a financially independent old age, but now I am worried, especially when I have to keep reminding my own department about my health, personal and even my financial status and ask for the pending dues," said an emotional Nikam.

Accident and false promises

Nikam, son of late chief fire officer VB Nikam, had worked as an assistant divisional fire officer for 24 years when the accident took place on October 6, 2008. He was heading towards his car when a roadside banyan tree owned by BMC fell on him at Mazagon. Surgeons had to amputate his left leg to prevent septicemia and his spine too was operated for an L1 fracture.

He claimed he had to foot the bill of Rs 1 lakh for his artificial leg as well as Rs 12 lakh for his hospitalisation and medicines. "The fire department had initially promised that they would bear the medical expenses, but no financial assistance was offered. The department had also promised a prosthetic leg, which never came," Nikam said.

Since his recovery, he was on a supervisory post at the control room of Mumbai Fire Brigade. Nikam alleged that his colleagues started treating him like dirt and some junior officers were promoted while his promotion was withheld on the grounds of his disability.

Otherside

Attempts to contact Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide did not yield any result. H D Parab, chief fire officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, said, "We must understand that a process needs to be followed before the accounts department does their part of clearing the dues. At our end, we have completed our processing and are coordinating with the accounts department. Hopefully, he will get his temporary pension and other dues before the end of this month or first week of March, as per norms."

33
Years Nikam served the Fire Brigade