Mumbai: Mask marshalls to get makeover with new uniforms, secure ID card

A clean-up marshall fines a person for spitting. File pic

Marshalls are set to return in a new avatar as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to rechristen them as nuisance detectors. The civic body will give them swanky uniforms, like that of security guards, with ID cards that will have a unique code number in a bid to deter fakes. The NDs will be assigned to look after instances of littering, spitting, urinating in public and other civic complaints.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani, who heads the solid waste management department, confirmed the development and told mid-day, "We have received applications from 19 agencies. Now these private staff will be named nuisance detectors."

A mask marshall fines a citizen for not wearing a mask in October 2020. File pic

"The BMC will appoint 30 private NDs in every ward. As we have received applications from 19 agencies, we will give the responsibility of two wards to some agencies as per their rank in BMC scrutiny. We will also ensure that a proper complete uniform like a private security guard is given with a cap, belt, and the shirts will have a nameplate on the chest and the unique number on the back. The agency will be responsible for provision of the uniform, not the BMC," a senior BMC official said.

He added, "It will be mandatory to perform the duty only in the prescribed uniform. If we find any ND without any proper uniform, we will take strict action against the concerned agency. Even citizens can lodge complaints with BMC online."

"Our staff will be keeping an eye on them. If NDs are not found at the designated place, we will initiate action," he said, adding, "If an ND is found misbehaving or without a uniform, the BMC can fine the agency concerned Rs 1,000 the first time. If there is frequent misconduct, the contract can be terminated."

The BMC also clarified that they will not be appointing any old agencies this time. "Private NDs can use the only company ID and will not be allowed to use the BMC official logo. Our intentions are not to garner revenue or just collect fines, the priority is to keep the city clean. Hence, we have designed a distinctive uniform to identify them easily," an official said.

Action against erring agencies

Activists said the BMC needs to act against earlier agencies appointed as nuisance detectors. "It was in 2007 that the BMC for the first time appointed a private agency for clean-up marshalls and it has since remained controversial. During the pandemic, BMC empowered marshalls to take action against those who do not wear masks. It was then that they were often seen behaving rudely with citizens, misusing their powers without uniform. Even fake marshalls have cropped up. Now, the BMC needs to follow strict rules while appointing private agencies and also need to monitor them closely to avoid such citizen harassment," an activist said.

30
No. of NDs to be deployed in each ward

19
No. of agencies that applied to BMC