Mohammed Sajid & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Dec 13: The 151 retrenched Part Time Employees of Education Department are again making news. The employees have once again gone on indefinite strike. According to the employees the L.G had instructed the officials of the administration on 1st of November 2013 while he was in a meeting with the MP to take up the matter and the Principal Secretary (Education) had assured that steps will be taken for the re-engagement of these persons by 1st of December 2013 but until today nothing has happened.
All the 151 workers worked as part time workers in the education department for period as long as 25 years but their employments were taken off and new staffs were appointed in their places even after years of faithful service for the department.
The MP has taken this issue several times before different officials and finally in his meeting with the LG on 1st of November 2013 the Principal Secretary Education had promised to take-up the matter and take steps for their re-engagement till 1st December 2013 but all the 151 people are still unemployed and are seeking employment form the education department.
Retrenched Employees from far flung areas of the Islands have also joined the strike at Tiranga Park in order to fight for their rights. Women along with small babies are also a part of the strike and everyone in one voice are demanding employment in the education department for them.
The organizers of the strike informed Andaman Sheekha that they will be on indefinite strike until they get employment and will sit in the Tiranga park till tomorrow evening and will move to the Education Department Office after tomorrow evening and will sit on strike there what so ever happens.
The strike seems to be getting a lot of attention from the political leaders of the Islands and everybody is promising the employees to get them justice and employment.
