Nirmaan Manch's stir ends after Rawat's assurance

Dozens of Uttarakhand State Nirmaan Chinhit Andolankari Manch activists who were protesting outside the Rispana police barricade since Wednesday evening called off their stir after Chief Minister Harish Rawat assured them to address their grievances at his office in the Vidhan Sabha, on Thursday.

A Press note released by the State Government mentioned that it was sensitive regarding the Statehood activists and consequently, it had taken several measures in spite of the State having limited resources. 

The Government will take all possible steps for their welfare in future. The young among the activists would be provided with all kinds of assistance if they start their own business, the release said. Vipin Singh Chauhan, one of the activists, said that a delegation of the association had met Rawat to apprise him in details of their long-pending demands and unaddressed grievances. “The Chief Minister assured us he would redress our grievances soon. As per the assurance, the Government would release GO in April, clearing decks for 10 per cent horizontal reservation in the State Government jobs for the identified statehood activists aside from providing pension to the women activists and the male activists above 50. The Government will bring a bill in the current session on these matters,” he added.

Meanwhile, to pressure the State Government, dozens of Statehood activists continued with their candle light stir till Thursday evening. The agitators had stayed put at the sit-in site throughout Wednesday night. The administration has deployed adequate police forces to maintain peace. Apparently piqued with the stir dragging on when the Assembly Session was on, the CM invited the activists for talks on Thursday noon. Chauhan, however, threatened to intensify their stir if the Government did not act on the CM’s assurances. According to him, the Government had identified around 10, 000 Statehood activists, including women.  But around 4, 000 people have been given either pension or Government jobs.

“We had undergone ordeal to make the dream of separate state come true. But we are being kept in the cold since Uttarakhad became a reality,” he said.

 He further said, “We would not have demanded anything had the State Government not given anything to the activists by way of largesse. We have been told that those spearheading Statehood stirs in Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Telangana have not given either pension or Government jobs after these States were formed. However, when the process of providing such largesse to the activists is on all should be brought under the network of largesse.” 

“Here what happened is that the Government has given pension or Government jobs to around 4,000 of the around 10,000 Statehood activists. Why should the rest — 6, 000 activists — be kept at bay.” he asked.