PWD workers’ union calls for early resolution of demands
Special Correspondent
SILCHAR: The three-day 41st State conference of PWD Workers’ Union concluded here at the Gandhi Bhavan after deliberations among the leaders and workers for their resolution.
With that objective in mind, in the opening session itself, presided over by Anil Rajkumar, the keynote speeches indicated that the conference was not to end in mere discussions, but the State Government would be conveyed the message that “it should address the issues raised to make the department of public utility more of use to people.”
4,000 employees of the department stand in need of regularisation for their better sustenance to end their financial difficulties. Section assistants are deprived of grade pay, giving the sense of discrimination and negligence. The employees demand leave travel concession and retention. They face acute problem of accommodation. There is virtually a sort of disorder in providing accommodation to them. Those who retire refuse to vacate their quarters. Some employees after retirement rent their quarters to others. Concerted voice has been raised from the conference to pressure the government to resolve them.
The Workers’ Union has hailed the signature project initiated by the Sarbananda Sonowal government which makes provision for allotment of Rs 10 crore to each constituency. It is a novel project that aims at construction and repair of roads for better connectivity and for easy and fast movement. The work has already started which keeps in mind the greenery and ecology with plantations along the roads. Demand has also been focussed on filling up posts left vacant following retirement. This has become a major irritant for the functioning of the department.
Kabindra Purkayastha former Union Minister, MLAs Dilip Kumar Paul and Amar Chand Jain in identical tone spoke of the commitment of the Sonowal government to develop the two valleys equally.
This has been on the top of the agenda. Road development is essential for economic boost up. They assured the leaders of the Union and workers their demands would be brought before the state and expect positive outcome. They at the same time laid stress on both way cooperation between the State and the employees. This will pace up development works. The conference was graced by State president, Debajit Debroy, VP Bijoy Kumar Dutta and general secretary, Chandra Kanta Saikia.