PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Samvida Shramik Sangh (UJSSSS) staged a protest outside the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) office on Monday over the termination of 38 employees in Srinagar, Srikot and Shakti Vihar (Pauri Division) by the contractor and the department. Despite rainfall on Monday, UJSSSS members protested and demanded the reinstatement of the employees.
The UJSSS general secretary Manglesh Lakhera informed that two months ago, a new contractor was appointed in the Pauri division of UJS. After taking over, the contractor terminated these 38 employees, who had been working diligently for the past 15-20 years to maintain essential services, such as drinking water supply, even under challenging conditions like extreme weather and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The removal of these workers has created a livelihood crisis for their families, and the manner in which they were terminated is seen as disrespectful, he said.
Lakhera further said that despite organising numerous protests over the past two months at the Pauri division, no action has been taken to address the situation. Recently, UJSSSS representatives met senior officials at UJS in Dehradun to express their concerns. However, the officials dismissed the matter, claiming it was a dispute between the workers and the contractors. As a result, they staged a protest at the UJS office. The protest will continue till the 38 employees are reinstated. The union demands that these 38 employees be reinstated immediately to their original positions. Additionally, similar to Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL), they should also be accommodated in the outsourcing agency and given equal pay for equal work, he said.
