PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Samvida Shramik Sangh (UJSSSS) that their long-standing demand for the reinstatement of 38 employees terminated by the contractor and the department recently in Srinagar, Srikot and Shakti Vihar (Pauri Division) would be addressed, claimed UJSSSS general secretary Manglesh Lakhera.
The UJSSSS recently staged a protest at the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) office over the termination of the 38 employees. Lakhera earlier informed that two months ago, a new contractor was appointed in the UJS Pauri division.
After taking over, the contractor terminated these 38 employees who had been diligently working for the past 15-20 years to maintain essential services like drinking water supply even under challenging conditions like extreme weather and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The removal of these workers has created a livelihood crisis for their families and the manner in which they were terminated was viewed as disrespectful and arrogant, he said.
Lakhera said that after the recent protest at the UJS office, heavy rainfall forced the protests to be halted for a few days. They recently decided to march toward the CM residence on August 25 to voice their demands. However, after announcing their march, they were called to the CM’s office. Dhami met them and assured them that their demands would be resolved soon, directing them to speak with the Drinking Water secretary Shailesh Bagauli.
Following this meeting, they approached the secretary, who assured them that the 38 workers would soon be reinstated, either at the same office or at a nearby office within a distance of five kilometres. Lakhera stated that if this issue is not resolved by September 1 or 2, they will plan a march again toward the CM’s residence.
