Sri Vijaya Puram, July 20: Mr. S. Tejeswara Rao, State Chairman of the Unorganized Workers & Employees Congress Committee, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has submitted a representation to the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands seeking amendment of the existing Service Rules and formulation of a comprehensive Regularisation Policy for long-serving Unorganized Workers, Casual Labourers, Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) and 1/3rd Pay Employees working in various Departments of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao stated that thousands of workers have been rendering uninterrupted service for many years and are performing duties of a permanent and perennial nature. However, despite their dedicated service, many continue to remain without regular status and are deprived of job security, service benefits and promotional opportunities.
He said that the Government of India has, over the years, recognized the unique geographical and administrative conditions of the Islands through various policy relaxations and regularisation schemes, and similar consideration should now be extended to all eligible long-serving workers.
He further said that the Constitution of India guarantees equality before law and equal opportunity in public employment, while the Hon’ble Supreme Court has also recognised the power of Governments to frame appropriate schemes for the regularisation of eligible employees in accordance with law.
He urged the Administration to amend the existing Service Rules and Regularisation Scheme, frame a fair and transparent Regularisation Policy, and constitute a High-Level Committee to examine all pending cases and complete the process within a fixed timeframe.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao expressed hope that the Lieutenant Governor would give sympathetic consideration to the genuine demands of long-serving Unorganized Workers, Casual Labourers, Daily Rated Mazdoors and 1/3rd Pay Employees, and take early action to ensure justice, social security and dignity for those who have devoted the prime years of their lives in the service of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
