Port Blair, Sept 05: The 3-day Evening Mass Dharna by the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has began at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair today.
The Dharna is being conducted as part of the nation-wide agitation launched by the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, New Delhi, in pursuance of its 15-point Charter of Demands. Inaugurating the Dharna at 4 p.m. today, Mr. Pronob Banerjee, former President of the Association called upon the government employees in the islands to be part of the nation-wide agitation for achieving their long-pending and genuine demands.
Mr. Sadanand Rai, President, Mr. GP Mondal, Orgnaising Secretary, Mr. SL Vinjit, Joint Secretary, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch and Mr. Shaktivel, Vice Presiddent, Shipping Department Sub-Committee addressed the gathering. The Mass Dharna was led among others by Mr. D. Ayyappan, General Secretary, Mr. HL Prasad, Vice President and Mr. TS Sreekumar, Assistant General Secretary of the Association.
The 15-point demands include (1) Setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission to effect wage revision of central government employees (2) immediate merger of 50% DA with pay,(3) to withdraw PFRDA Bill from the Parliament and to ensure Pension to all government employees, (4) remove ban on creation of posts and recruitment, (5) stop price rise and strengthen the Public Distribution System, (6) Stop downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatisation and privatization of Governmental functions; (7) Revise the OTA and Night duty allowance and clothing rates of uniforms, etc.
Local demands like (1) To extend the upgraded Grade Pay to the left-out categories of Teachers/miscellaneous teachers viz., H.M., PETs, Librarians, CIs, PSRTs etc. (2) Upgraded Grade Pay for LGCs and HGCs (3) Immediate Restructuring of Amalgamated Stenographic Cadre and Amalgamated Statistical Cadre, etc. are also being highlighted during the Mass Dharna. The Dharna will continue on 6th and 7th September, 2013 also.
