Cash crunch hits Assam development authority staff due to non-payment of salaries

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: More than 300 employees of development authorities have been facing an acute cash crunch due to non-payment of their salaries for 15-50 months in a row.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, the advisor of the All Assam Development Authority Employees' Joint Council, Ratul Bora said, "There are 24 development authorities constituted by the government in various districts of Assam under the provision of Town and Planning Act, 1959 for the implementation of Master Plan and Zoning Regulation meant for their individual jurisdiction. There are more than 300 employees of various cadres, who were appointed for the smooth functioning and who have been rendering their services for years against meagre salaries. However, for 15-50 months these employees have to bear the brunt of hunger pangs due to non-payment of salaries." The demands of the employees include provincialization of posts of the employees, retirement benefits to the employees, making development authorities more functional, publication of uniform service rules for such employees and others etc.

Ratul Bora said, "The central committee representatives met the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs from time to time and sent repeated memoranda but hasn't received any response from the State government." "The employees are suffering from extreme financial crunch and if the government lends a deaf ear on our cause, we shall have to take the democratic path and in that situation all responsibilities will lie with the government," Bora added.

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