Krishnagar municipality halts holiday pay for casual workers
The Statesman | 3 December 2025
In a decisive step to pull Krishnagar municipality out of financial distress, municipal administrator and SDO (Sadar) Sharadwati Choudhury has issued an order that casual workers will no longer receive wages for holidays, including Sundays, unless they actually work on those days.
The directive, which is effective from 1 December, has triggered considerable discussion across administrative and political circles, particularly as the civic body, once counted among the state’s more vibrant urban local bodies, struggles to manage a burgeoning staff bill and declining revenue.
For the past ten months, Krishnagar municipality’s treasury has been under severe strain due to poor revenue realisation. Salaries have largely been drawn from savings, officials admit, while multiple civic services continue to suffer.
One of the most contentious issues, now resurfacing, is the long-standing practice of casual staff allegedly drawing salaries without performing their assigned duties. The financial impact is substantial: the municipality requires Rs 1.36 crore every month for staff salaries alone, of which Rs 66 lakh goes to casual employees. These payments come directly from the municipal coffers.
At a time when revenue inflows are minimal, the administrator sees cutting expenditure as unavoidable. “Casual staff receiving salary for 31 days does not happen anywhere else,” Sharadwati Choudhury said. “It was being given here. The financial condition of the municipality is very poor. After reviewing the situation, this decision has been taken to improve the treasury. All actions are being taken strictly in accordance with government rules.”
Her order emphasises that Sundays and public holidays cannot be treated as paid days unless work is performed. This marks a sharp contrast to practices in other district establishments, where casual employees typically receive wages for 22 to 24 working days a month.