Highly infuriated over the callous approach of the State Government for not fulfilling the year long pending demands of contract workers of three power corporations in Uttarakhand, the protesting workers burnt the effigy of the State Government in support of their pending demands.
They have also threatened to intensify their agitation, if their demands are not met by the State Government soon. The ongoing agitation by contractual employees from all three power corporations which include Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl), Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (UJVNl), Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand limited (PTCUl) under the banner of Uttarakhand Vidyut Samvida Karmchari Sangathan (UVSKS) gathered at Parade Ground, Dehradun on Thursday and also raised anti department slogans in support of their year long pending demands.
Some of the protesters also got their heads shaved as a mark of protest. The agitators lamented that they have submitted memorandum highlighting their demands many times to higher department officials and public representatives but their year long pending demands are still pending. After burning the effigy of the State Government as their year long pending demands are still pending, the association members also threatened to intensify their agitation in support of their demands.
The agitators cleared that members are in the mood of decisive show this time and will withdraw their agitation, once their year long pending demands are fulfilled by the department. It is also equally important to mention here is that the city police have arrested around seven dozen agitators on Wednesday as they were planning to take out rally in support of their year long pending demands but were released late in the last night.
It is also noteworthy around 2,000-2,500 contract workers from all three power corporations have been staging protest in support of their year long pending demands. After expressing concern over lethargic approach of the State Government for not fulfilling the year long pending demands of the association, Vinod Kavi, State general secretary, UVSKS lamented that memorandum highlighting their demands was given many times to public representatives and top bureaucrats but association’s year long demands are still pending.
“15 per cent hike in salary, enforcement of labour laws and provision of Rs 10 lakh compensation for the bereaved family in case of accidental death of a worker and a job for one dependent, official quarters etc. are pending demands of association,” he said, adding that the association members have decided to intensify their agitation in the near future in support of their year long pending of association.