Port Blair, Jun 17: Mr. B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of Center of India Trade Unions (CITU), Andaman & Nicobar Committee has written a letter to the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands regarding to provide immediate relief to lockdown affected poor people to survive.
In his letter he pointed out that restriction of movement of people and economic activities have been imposed in the islands from the second week of April 2021 followed by territory-wide lockdown. During the last two months workers in the unorganized sectors and workers in the various other sectors engaged in private Buses, Auto Rickshaw, Taxi, Tourist Vehicles, Tourist Boat, Hotels, Shops and Hawkers and construction related workers have no source of income.
He further mentioned that while many governments on the mainland provide financial assistance and food kits to the workers and poor people, the UT Administration in the islands do not take any steps to provide any kind of relief to the above sections of the people.
“The conditions of the migrant workers who do not have ration cards and are unable to get any PDS ration food items are unimaginable with nothing to eat during this pandemic time. Low paid workers and casual/DRM/contract workers engaged in government departments and organizations are also facing hardships as they are unable to meet both ends with the meager amount they are getting now”, the General Secretary added.
He further pointed out that Administration is busy in enforcing the restriction imposed with a view to bring down the COVID-19 spread in the islands, the plights of the above section of the society is never discussed anywhere except the publicity-oriented distribution of certain materials like medicine, etc.
Thus he urged to issue and involve some measure to provide immediate succor to the lockdown affected workers and other poor section in these islands and demanded that Rs. 7500 per month may be paid to all non-income tax paying families in the islands and 10 KG of rice for each family free of cost per month.
