Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, April 20: Repeated protests and demonstrations by the Daily Rated Workers of the Andaman Public Works Department notwithstanding, the government agency continues to miss deadlines for implementation of the 1/30th of pay plus DA to the daily rated workers as per the guidelines of the Central Government. The daily rated workers of APWD staged a massive agitation last year in November demanding grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA and other service benefits as the norms. The APWD assured to look into the demand on priority. But after a lapse of over 4-5 months, the APWD failed to implement the rule to benefit the daily rated workers.
The DRMs of APWD took to the streets again, this time supported by the Confederation of Indian Trade Unions. The grievance of the DRMs was placed before the National Lok Adalat recently, which directed the APWD to implement the grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA to the daily rated workers of APWD as per the government guidelines and expedite payment of bonus to the eligible DRMs within three months.
But sources claim that despite the Court diktat the APWD has initiated no steps to grant the service benefits to the eligible DRMs. Owing to the apathy of APWD, the CITU has now threatened to hold widespread demonstrations if the government agency fails to comply with the Court orders within the stipulated period.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, CITU General Secretary, Mr B Chandrachoodan termed the unwarranted delay as open violation of government rules. Despite assurance and court orders, the APWD has taken no steps till date to implement the 1/30th pay plus DA for the DRMs of the agency. If APWD fails to meet the deadline set by Court, we’ll be forced to hold widespread agitations to press for the demand, he said.
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