Nagpur, India: In preparation for the monsoon season, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) conducted surprise attendance checks and penalised 92 sanitation workers found absent without permission in Gandhibagh and Laxminagar zones.

The inspection, led by Additional Municipal Commissioner Vasumana Pant, revealed that 82 workers in Gandhibagh and 10 in Laxminagar had skipped duty without any sanctioned leave. Each of them has been fined ₹1,000 and will face a half-day salary deduction.

The action comes just a day after 42 workers in Laxminagar were similarly penalised, with six supervisors issued show-cause notices for negligence in monitoring staff attendance.

With over 7,000 sanitation workers employed by the NMC, the city still struggles with cleanliness. Officials say nearly 26% of these workers are assigned to non-sweeping tasks, leaving many areas unattended. Public complaints have also been rising, especially as the city recently slipped in national cleanliness rankings.

In response, the NMC is now considering stricter monitoring methods such as biometric and facial recognition attendance systems. Meanwhile, safety gear including masks, gloves, and gumboots is being distributed to workers ahead of monsoon-related risks.

Residents in other zones like Mangalwari and Satranjipura have also urged the civic body to carry out similar inspections to ensure better sanitation services across the city.