IMPHAL Aug 27: The three protestors who had shouted slogans and dispersed pamphlets were felicitated in a function today at the office of All Manipur Engineering Departments Unions’ Council (AMEDUC) located at Keishampat.
The trio identified as Heikrujam Ibomcha Singh, Heirok part III, M. Rajen Singh, Heirok part I and Khundongbam Lalamu, Heirok part II currently employed in IFCD were members of AMEDUC.
Apologizing for the sudden commotion broke out at the Assembly hall yesterday, president of AMEDUC, Y Ranapratap Singh stated that the council was compelled to take up the agitation to draw immediate attention of the government as a result of the failure to respond to their plights.
He further asserted that the work- charge, muster-roll and casual employees of Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD), Electricity (Power) Department and Minor Irrigation Department under the AMEDUC have been seeking government’s action for regularization or absorption to respective departments as per the status of each employees. He added that the said employees have been surviving with meager sum.
The work-charge employees have been serving for more than 25 years same with the regular employees in each engineering departments. He further elaborated that the only difference is lack of job security and non availability of facilities to enjoy ACP Scheme, medical reimbursement, leave salary, pension facilities, and opening of GPF, EPF and other benefits. In this connection, the council had submitted memorandums and reminders to the central government during the month of July and August this year however no necessary actions have been taken up so far by the government in this matter, Ranapratap decried citing government’s apathy over their demands, the president noted.
