The Uttarakhand Seeds and Terai Development Corporation (USTDC) which is also stated to be the first seed corporation set up in the nation, now appears to be in dire straits. Employees and various workers of the Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation (USTDC) who have not received their salaries for the past months, locked the gate of the USTDC headquarters and staged a protest demonstration here on the weekend.
Sources inform that the board meeting of the corporation is slated to be held in Dehradun on Monday with issues including the financial requirements lined up for discussion. It is worth mentioning here that for a long period of about 48 years, the USTDC was known also for holding the distinction of being referred to as the first seed corporation established in the nation.Works done by the corporation in the past have resulted in the awarding of various national-level producers’ awards.
Apart from the State, the corporation had also established its own identity with its produce known as Pantnagar seeds earning considerable name in the nation. The protesting workers alleged that, from the heights of such professional scientific efficiency, the corporation has been allowed to degrade to such a situation that it is on the brink of closure, due to the alleged apathy of officials of the State administration, local administration and corporation iofficials working in connicance.
Sources inform that the board meeting of the corporation is slated to be held on October 17 in the Dehradun city. The board meeting will also entail deliberations on all of the cases related to finance. This is also stated to include the `25 crore financial assistance provision for the corporation.
Meanwhile, staging a protest demonstration outside the gate of the USTDC head quarters here on the weekend Those who addressed the protest gathering, said that the officers of the corporation should also join the employees who were protesting against non-payment of their salaries.
Some union leaders also threatened that in case the officers do not come out in support of the protesting workers, such officers will be forcefully taken out of their offices.