Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Sept 06: The retrenched Civil Defense Volunteers started an indefinite dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Mayabunder in the morning hours today. As per report, the Civil Defense Volunteers (CDVs) who were engaged for three months by the A & N Administration were placed in Revenue dept., Govt. Hospitals in North & Middle Andaman District and they (CDVs) relentlessly rendered their service in COVID duties as well.
However, after three months, they continued to work without the approval of extension of order for their retention and without payment but with the administration’s nod.
After providing their service at a stretch for four months in addition, they were not paid with their salaries for successive four months. And when they prayed to the then Deputy Commissioner, Mayabunder and apprised her of their miserable condition, they were asked by the Administration to discontinue their service; and ultimately the unfortunate youths leading a hardscrabble life had to bow down to poverty and quit the job.
It has elapsed eight months now since their due salaries haven’t been paid, and now they want that, at first their due payments are paid without further delay and their second demand is that they are re-engaged as CDVs as before so that their poverty and unemployment is eliminated.
The Deputy Commissioner visited the dharna site and heard the grievances of the sacked CDVs. The Deputy Commissioner after hearing their grievance sounded sympathetic but didn’t give any assurance of redressal of their problems and told them that it lies with the higher authorities to take decision to this effect.
Being demoralised, the agitating youths coming right from Diglipur to Baratang and braving the inclement weather declared to continue an indefinite dharna (day & night) until their demands are met, the report further said.
