PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
In view of the failure to address the long-standing demand for the reinstatement of 40 workers who were recently terminated by the contractor and the department in Srinagar, Srikot and Shakti Vihar (Pauri Division), the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Samvida Shramik Sangh (UJSSSS) has announced that it will march to the chief minister’s residence and hold a protest there after the Navratri festival, UJSSSS general secretary Manglesh Lakhera said.
UJSSSS recently organised a protest outside the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) office concerning the dismissal of 48 employees. Lakhera had earlier said that a new contractor was appointed in the Pauri division of UJS two months ago. After assuming control, the contractor dismissed these 48 workers, who had been providing essential services, such as drinking water, for 15 to 20 years, often in difficult conditions, including extreme weather and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The dismissal of these workers has led to a livelihood crisis for their families. Following the protests at UJS, they plan to march to the CM residence on August 25 to express their demands. However, just after announcing their march, they were called to the CM office. The CM and the secretary of Drinking Water, Shailesh Bagauli, assured them that the 40 employees in question would be reinstated.
Regarding the current situation, Lakhera stated that previously, the CM and the secretary had agreed to their demands, promising that they would be met within one week. Yet, 20 days have elapsed and none of the employees have been reinstated. In light of this, on Thursday, they encircled the secretariat and protested until 5 PM. Officials from UJS, along with other officials concerned claimed that this issue does not fall under the UJS department, as the contractor had terminated the employees. Lakhera said that they have now decided to march towards the CM residence after the Navratri festival to demand their reemployment.
He also said that UJS department officials indicated that employees would be assigned work once the new scheme is implemented. He clarified that the operations of the new scheme fall under Peyjal Nigam rather than the UJS.
