Editor,
Apropos of the news item “Form panel to study central notices, says NEHU Union” which appeared in The Shillong Times (ST August 23, 2022), I can understand the unhappiness on the part of protesting casual workers as the University negotiation Committee under my Chairmanship did not give any false hope of accepting their unrealistic demands. This is the reason that they expressed the view that “the current Negotiation committee under the Chairmanship of SB Prasad has failed miserably to address the issue of workers”. Their demands have been extensively changing from one letter to another. Most of the possible demands such as fitting of aquaguards, providing safety kits at the time of duty, a medical facility in the emergency at the time of duty, identity cards, overtime based on performance certificates, etc have been accepted in principle. The protesting workers do not want attendance cum performance certificate to be followed for them by NEHU and they have sent a representation in this regard to Her Excellency the President of India. It should be known that attendance and monitoring of the work are mandatory for even the regular employees of the University.
Further, it should be clear that the terms and conditions of the payment of salary/wages to regular workers/ casual daily wage workers are governed separately by the Government rules. The protesting casual workers demanded, “our salary to be implemented as per 7th Pay Commission Revision”. Is it possible for NEHU or any other central organization to implement the 7th pay commission revision for them? Similarly, the demand that TA should be paid to casual workers as “the majority of these workers spend around Rs. 350 daily in their traveling expenses whereas they receive below Rs. 500 in hand per day” is beyond my understanding, as if, it is the responsibility of the University to bring protesting casual workers daily from their residence and drop them back. NEHU is paying 30/31 days wages to casual workers which is exceeding 26 days of work in a month. The wages are also paid to them for holidays declared by the Government. The negotiation committee has clarified repeatedly that whatever is possible as per Laws, Rules, and Regulations of Govt. of India applicable to casual workers will be followed regarding their demands. Further, it was also mentioned to them that there are so many Central Universities /Institutions in the North-east and the rest of the country, that have a much greater number of casual workers, so, submit any supporting document concerning your variety of demands, but till date, casual workers have failed to provide a single document in this regard.
Further, as far as the number of representatives to be present from both sides during negotiation is concerned, the protesting workers themselves are behaving very casually as they come differently in numbers such as 6, 11, 15, 17, etc on different occasions for the joint meeting. Sometimes they become adamant to come up with 22 members. Now protesting casual workers want “joint body of experts to be constituted by drawing five members from NEHU and five from the union”. This again reflects their hidden agenda as if the 10 members Negotiation committee under my Chairmanship constituted by the University are not aware of the facts. The casual workers’ concern should be to select their representatives cum experts.
Regarding other demands, I have to mention that the Negotiation committee is already examining the cases as per Hon’ble Supreme Court decisions, Government notifications, and also the Hon’ble High Court decision of dismissing the petition filed by the many casual workers of NEHU. It has been “emphasized by the University Negotiation committee to the Casual Workers that if they are not convinced/satisfied with the ongoing Negotiation with regard to the demand of regularization of their services, they are at liberty to seek legal redressal”.
The Negotiation Committee appealed several times to agitating casual workers “ to withdraw the silent protest so that work in the respective section/Departments does not suffer. Even after the withdrawal of the protest, the talk process may continue with the University Negotiation Committee for an amicable solution of all the demands within the ambit of existing Rules, Regulations of the University and Government of India”. I hereby again humbly appeal to protesting workers to call off their protest in the interest of the University and their own interests.
Yours etc.,
Prof. S. B. Prasad
NEHU, Shillong
On traffic jams
Editor,
There have been many letters appearing in The Shillong Times bringing to light the traffic congestion in the city. Citizens are being told to make a conscious effort to lessen this burden by following good traffic discipline. But, what about political parties? Are they above law? Are they allowed to disrupt everything just because they’re holding a meeting? A Political Party Office in Lachumiere has been causing unwanted problems almost every week, not just for residents but also for the adjoining schools and offices. They have gone to the extent of calling car owners over the phone to vacate the space so that the most esteemed guests of political parties can park in that space. So much so that traffic policemen are now hanging around the party office with swipe machines in their hand ready to penalise any offender. They even go to the extent of changing traffic routes, putting no entry signs and throwing the entire traffic of the locality and thereby the city out of gear. And all this happens at the peak of school and office hours.
Taking a cue from this political party, another has set up shop next door. There have also been suggestions that the Lachumiere area shouldn’t be further congested, yet we see multiple office buildings cropping up every day. To make the situation worse the new SP’s Office has been proposed to be moved to Lachumiere as well. When political leaders are supposed to set an example to the citizens to manage the ever-increasing traffic congestion in the city, why is it that they seem to be worsening the situation instead of behaving responsibly?
Yours etc.,
Emica Nongkynrih,
Via email