Talk between NHPC Limited and Contract Basis Workers' Union ends in smoke

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The talk was held between the Contract Basis Workers' Union (CBWU) of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP), being constructed at Gerukamukh of Dhemaji district, and NHPC Limited on Wednesday in Guwahati ended in smoke. No resolution to the demand raised by the CBWU in order to regularize the jobs of more than 300 contract basis workers from Assam, who have been working in SLHP for more than 21 years, came out during the talk between the two parties. It was informed by Premeswar Saikia and Jhony Pegu, the president and the secretary of CBWU of NHPC Limited respectively through a press release.

Notably, CBWU of NHPC Limited has initiated a series of agitational programmes against NHPC Limited since April 5 to demand the job security of the workers concerned. NHPC limited has not regularized their job till date despite consecutive prayers and petitions, demonstrations of protest programmes and several series of talks held with the power generating corporation. Reiterating the same demand, CBWU of NHPC Limited initiated an extensive postering campaign on April 5 and April 6 in several districts of the State. Then the organization demonstrated protest by wearing black badges on April 7 and April 8. On the other hand, the organization has scheduled to stage a boycott on April 19 and April 20, a sit-in strike on April 21, a hunger strike on April 22 and April 23 and total sine-die non-cooperation from April 25.

Amid such an agitational environment, NHPC Limited invited the CBWU for a talk, by continuing the past trend, to be held on Wednesday in mediatorship of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (C) at Kendriya Shram Sodan, R.K. Mission Road, Birubari, Guwahati." The invitation was sent to the organization through a letter vide No. G/R 8(08)/2022-Dy CLC(C) dated 05/04/2022.

The press release stated that the talk between NHPC Limited and CBWU held on Wednesday at the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (C) as per the schedule.

"The talk between NHPC Limited and our organization regarding our demand failed due to the dereliction of the authority. Monuj Kumar, Sr. Mgr (HR) and RC Das, DGM (HR) represented NHPC Limited during the event. It was observed that both representatives of the NHPC Limited staged a drama in the name of talk. They could not cut the arguments made by the representatives of our organization in front of SK Roy, the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (C). It seems that NHPC Limited does not want the issue to be resolved, but wants to face agitation," CBWU president Premeswar Saikia and secretary expressed through the press release.

However the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (C) decided to hold the talk once again at SLHP site at Gerukamukh during the demonstration of protest by CBWU on April 21. The organization has welcomed the decision of the officer.

On the other hand, CBWU slammed the NHPC Limited for its alleged betrayal to the contract basis workers ahead of the Rongali Bihu and reiterated the demand to regularize their job at the earliest.

"We want to make it clear that we want a resolution to our issues, not talk for the sake of talk. Our stir will continue. We have announced this stand of our organization before NHPC Limited, State and Union governments and before the respected people of the State," the press release added.

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