PUNE, July 31: The Maharashtra government employees here were a harried lot as the day for drawing their monthly salaries was nearing. The reason? Their superiors were compelling them to deposit a lump sum in small savings schemes so that the target of Rs 94 crore for Pune district can be achieved before the deadline set at August 5.

The `Golden Jubilee Small Savings Scheme' is part of the State-level drive which has been launched to mark 50 years of India's Independence. Maharashtra has been given a target of Rs 10,000 crore.

Each employee was expected to foresake a substantial amount from his latest salary to enable Maharashtra retain the top spot in the country by once again setting a new record in small savings, according to a recent announcement made by Divisional Commissioner Arun Bhatia.

Although the official circular State that depositing money in small savings was optional, the minimum deposits had been fixed at Rs 5,000 for class I officers, Rs 3,000 for class II officers, Rs 1,000 for class III employees and Rs 500 for class IV employees. None of the to revenue officials were available for comment due to their official engagement.

The subtle coercion tactics of the top revenue officials has irked the government employees' unions. The Pune District State Government Employees' Association, Fourth Class Employees' Union and Education Department State Government Employees' Union have already submitted memoranda to Bhatia urging him to review the decision and make subscription to the schemes optional.

Representatives of all these unions told The Indian Express that Bhatia's announcement had come as a bolt from the blue to them. They even refuted the Divisional Commissioner's claim to having obtained the approval of the union office-bearers.

Still, the employees would volunteer to save in the scheme as in the past but need to be given an option to save in installments, according to the union representatives.

A special drive was launched last month with the entire revenue machinery virtually applying its might to get maximum deposits.

Each department was given a target to achieve. Subsequently, industrialists, traders, petrol dealers, cinema hall owners and ration shop owners were being summoned for `meetings' even on weekends. Targets ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 25,000 each individual were being imposed on them and deadlines set.

In most cases, the representative organisations were given the responsibility of collecting the deposits. Even individuals approaching the revenue offices were asked to first produce photo copies of small saving certificates.

The first protest was lodged by vehicle buyers who were being compelled to invest in small savings by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) here.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.