Delhi Golf Club is in the news, yet again

By Rahul Banerji

The venerable Delhi Golf Club has a knack of finding itself in the news, more often than not for the wrong reasons which often overshadows the good work it does.

So if it is not an attendant in her traditional dress being denied entry, it is an unseemly spat with one of India’s top professionals, or most recently, the closing down of its catering section that has resulted in 60-plus jobs lost.

According to the club management, the F&B section has been sustaining losses for years from a combination of factors.

A DGC notice that circulated on social media last week, pointed out that the catering balance sheet showed revenues of Rs 12.12 crore against expenses of Rs 17.40 crore (see photo below).

As a result, 66 employees from the F&B section were laid off.

‘Consistent loss’

“The food and beverages services have been losing consistently and the main reason is the extremely high wages to the staff as a result of a major wage agreement that we entered into in 2015,” Delhi Golf Club president Major R.S. Bedi, was quoted as saying.

“In the last five years, we have lost about Rs 5 crore. We tried to tell the employees that they needed to understand financial distress, but I think that there was absolutely no understanding of our situation. We negotiated for a month, but they were not ready for pay cuts.

“In terms of a compensation package, we have made a payment of a total Rs 11 crore to the 66 employees. The highest pay-out is about Rs 39 lakh and it averages at about Rs 15-16 lakh per person. So we actually have put that kind of money into the pockets of the staff,” he added.

‘Sensitive issue’

That may be the case. But at a time when job loss is a particularly sensitive issue, an elite institution that numbers the hoi polloi of Delhi in its ranks could have taken a more balanced view, a senior member said.

He recounted examples of food members on the committee who had repeatedly sought a raise in catering rates to cope with changing times, but had been denied time and again. “It;s a tough task, and we make it harder,” he added.

Among those raising his voice against the move was former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who pointed out that this was the worst possible time to take such a step.

Maj. Bedi, said the decision came after several meetings with staff regarding the wage bill.

“We took the final decision on May 25 after several meetings with the staff of the division,” he told the Indian Express.

Also read: Golf the real loser in Rashid Khan-DGC battle