The agents who, had been working in the Regional Transport Office here to help the public for years, should be allowed to do the job further as that is legal, said the Motor Vehicle Field Workers’ Union, Rourkela Branch.
Union president Surendra Dash told reporters that when Jawaharlal Nehru was Prime Minister, this concept was introduced in the country. So, during that time many States issued official identity cards to the field workers whose responsibilities are to create bridge between Transport Office and public.
Though it was not adopted in Odisha, but there was no restriction in the works of field workers.
In 1971 congregating the field workers, a union was formed and registered under the leadership of late Barrister Ranjit Mohanty.
Accordingly, in Regional Transport Office, the field workers were also working but all of sudden in a surprise move the then Collector, Sundargarh restricted the entry of the field workers into the Transport Office in 1998.
So, having no other way the then president of Field Workers Union of Rourkela unit late Muralidhar Parija challenged the decision of the Collector in the Orissa High Court and got decree against the decision of district administration.
And basing on the verdict of the High Court, the Transport Department issued identity cards to the field workers and everything has been going on smoothly.
But going against the court order last month, the Rourkela police arrested some members of the union who were discharging their responsibility in the Transport Office and forwarded them.
Due to the highhandedness of the police, it has become a problem for the authorised agents (field workers) to work in RT Office.
Due to this while the family members of the field workers have been starving, on the other, it has become a problem for common people to get their work done in RT Office.
Hence, under the circumstances, the administration should interfere and allow the authorize agents to work as usual, demanded Dash.
If anyone is doing any unprincipled works, he should be punished; and in this mater, the union would extend all support to the administration, assured Dash.