TURA: The Tura Division PHE Department Muster Roll Association has demanded regularization of the services of over 500 casual and muster roll workers of the department employed in West Garo Hills District.
In a statement issued here which was also submitted to the Meghalaya PHE Minister, the Association pointed out that since their deployment as muster roll employees they had been discharging their duties in various jobs like LDA, Computer Assistant, Plumber, Electrician, Peon, Chowkidar etc., to the best of their knowledge and abilities and to the satisfaction of their superiors for a meager return of Rs 100 per day.
The association added that the muster roll employees had acquired enough experience in their respective lines having been in service for the last 10 to 20 years which made them eligible for upgradation/regularization and lamented the silence of the concerned authorities to their problems and grievances.
“In spite of our individual and collective approaches for the last 10 to 20 years no tangible benefit has been accorded to us. We have enough experiences in our respective fields and are more than eligible for upgradation or regularization of our services,” the Association said.
The Association reminded that in spite of the enactment of the Meghalaya Regular Casual Workers Scheme in 1996 the concerned authority was deliberately denying their rights and benefits thereby committing the breach of the office memorandum of the Government.
Stating that the success of any project or work of a department solely depends on its grass root workers, the Association appealed to the PHE Minister to initiate necessary action to take up the matter with the concerned department for the conferment of benefits as laid down in the scheme to the effect of upgradation and regularization of their services depending on their experience and length of service at the earliest.