In support of their various demands the Federation of Uttarakhand Diploma Engineers started its Dharna at Parade grounds here on Monday. Addressing the members of the federation general secretary of the federation Harish Chandra Nautiyal said that in spite of the assurance and written orders of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the State Government was yet to implement the revision of grade pay and other issues concerning the diploma engineers.
The general secretary said that in the meeting with the CM, the understanding on making the post of Assistant Engineers non-functional and making the grade pay and salary of Superintendent Engineers at par with similar posts of Uttar Pradesh was reached. He threatened that the thousands of diploma engineers in the State would be forced to go on an indefinite strike if their demands are not fulfilled by the State Government. Nautiyal said that in the accidents occurred at the working sites, the local administration tends to file a FIR against the engineers without even investigation which is wrong and the federation opposes this.
The federation is demanding that grade pay of junior engineer should be revised to `4,800 and the pay disparity in the scale of Additional Assistant engineer be removed. The federation is of opinion, the practice of contractual appointments of Assistant and junior engineers should be stopped and inaccessible area allowance should be given to them. The members would sit on Dharna from December 15 to 18.