By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Nov: Contractual workers hired in various government departments through UPNL continue to press for regularisation and they have refused to withdraw their indefinite strike at the Parade Ground, even after the Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, decided to form a sub-committee to address their demands. The striking employees have declared that the agitation will continue until the government provides a written assurance regarding their regularisation.
It may be reminded here that thousands of contractual workers from across the state have been camping at the Parade Ground here for past several days, demanding that their services be made permanent. The issue was discussed in the Cabinet meeting yesterday, following which the government announced the constitution of a sub-committee expected to submit its report within two months. However, the protesting workers have rejected the move, terming it an attempt to delay the issue and reiterating that they will not end the strike without a written commitment from the government.
Braving the biting cold in the state capital, workers from various districts continue to spend nights at the protest site, asserting that their present honorarium of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 is insufficient to sustain their families. Many said they have been working for over a decade without any increment in pay. They pointed out that rising expenses on rent, education and medical treatment have made their financial condition unbearable.
Accusing the government of “playing committee-committee”, the protesters expressed frustration at repeated assurances without results. The office bearers of the Union of UPNL employees say a large number of them have been serving in various departments for the past more than a decade but are still struggling to meet their household expenses as they getting a meagre salary and there has not been a pay hike in these years. Many employees claim that they have come from the hills to serve in cities like Dehradun and spend a major share of their earnings on rent and children’s education while they can’t afford to keep their families with them owing to low pay.
It was further reminded that the majority of UPNL workers have been serving in government departments for nearly two decades on a small honorarium. Many women, leaving their children under neighbours’ care, have joined the agitation and are spending nights under the open sky to press for their rights.
It may be recalled that many of the guards posted in various governments are family members of ex-army personnel and have been deployed through UPNL for over 15 years and are nearing the retirement age but the salary continues to be Rs 16,500. They point out that they continued to serve hoping for permanent absorption or for a significant hike in honorarium but that hope remains unfulfilled.
The protesting employees have vowed to continue their peaceful agitation until the government issues a written assurance of regularisation, underscoring that their patience has worn thin after years of neglect.
