Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 12: A large number of (sacked) Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) staged a massive dharna in front of the Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Diglipur Division today in the morning hours.
As per report, the dharna was mounted against their retrenchment from their job from the month of October 2023. They shouted slogans demanding their re-engagement as DRMs in the Forest Department. The dharna was led by the CITU Zonal Secretary, Diglipur Unit.
Leading from the front, the CITU Zonal Secretary, D/Pur Unit said that the CITU Central Committee had approached the honourable High Court with the matter retrenchment of DRMs from the Forest Department and it reportedly obtained a Stay Order from the honourable High Court to this effect.
He further said that the DRMs have been working for the last 5 to 6 years or more than that period of time in the Forest Department and this is how they used to maintain their families; and if all of a sudden they are sacked where they will go. The Union and the DRMs are reportedly against the policy of the rotation system of the department, and they demanded that their job should be continued.
They further said that the Forest Department is allegedly violating the honourable Court’s Order in the matter and that’s why they gathered in front of the DFO Office and mounted this dharna. They will intensify their dharna in the coming days till they are re-engaged in the department, they said. The CITU Zonal Secretary, D/Pur Unit apprised the Union’s Central Committee of the current situation on the matter, and he will take further course of action as per the decision of the Central Committee, he said.
The CITU Zonal Secretary further disclosed that, amid this impasse, he reportedly received an order copy as a good response from the Office of the DFO, Wimberlygunj Division where the DRMs are being reportedly re-engaged. And if the stand-off in respect of the re-engagement of DRMs in the Forest Department isn’t neutralized, the CITU will start dharna all across Andamans, the CITU Zonal Secretary, Diglipur, Unit threatened.
When Andaman Sheekha tried to know further details, the concerned Officials of the Forest Department were not available for any comment on the matter.