Port Blair, May 10: The Lt. Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) AK Singh held a meeting at Raj Niwas on 8th May in which the issue of regularization of the services of daily rated mazdoors working in various Divisions of Forest Department including the Baratang Forest Division was discussed with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and other officers of the Forest Department in presence of a delegation of Baratang Forest Workers Union (CITU).
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions and Baratang Forest Workers’ Union (CITU) have been demanding regularization of the services of all those daily rated workers who come under the criteria laid down by the Supreme Court in the State of Karnataka –vs- Umadevi (2006) case.
According to a release issued by President of Baratang Forest Workers Union, after reviewing the issue raised by the Union, the Lt. Governor was kind enough to direct the Forest Department to implement the Supreme Court judgement and regularize the services of daily rated mazdoors who come under the ambit of the Supreme Court judgement.
The Supreme Court in the said judgement had ordered that the services of those daily rated mazdoors who have completed 10 years of service in 2006 should be regularized as a one-time measure. The decision taken by the Lt. Governor will benefit a large number of daily rated workers working in various Divisions under the Forest Department.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions expressed its gratitude to the Lt. Governor and the PCCF and other officers of the Forest Department for the decision taken by the Lt. Governor today to regularize the services of the above daily rated mazdoors of Forest Department. The delegation of the Baratang Forest Workers’ Union was led by Shri B. Chandrachoodan, President.
