Hill council workers on warpath over jobs

Darjeeling, Jan. 31: DGHC employees have decided to gherao Lal Kothi, the administrative headquarters of the hill council, on February 5 to demand a change from contractual to permanent status.

The decision was taken by DGHC Ashitya Karmarchari Sangatan, the recently formed, apolitical employees’ association of the council.

“The DGHC has taken away the prime years of our life and even after serving there for more than 20 years, we are still on six-month contracts. Our sole demand is immediate regularisation of the 8,000-odd DGHC workers,” said association president Machendra Subba.

The 8,000 or so employees form 90-95 pre cent of the council’s total workforce.

Though empowered to appoint permanent Groups C and D workers with permission from the Bengal government, the DGHC has not yet made any regular appointments.

Initially, people were appointed on a one-year contract. However, a few years ago, the duration was slashed to six months.

The salaries of the employees, too, were slashed at a time when everyone had expected a raise, especially those who had worked for a long time.

Even the Group A and B employees, who include the council secretaries (now called executive officers) and engineers, are on contracts.

“How long are we to carry on serving not knowing what our future holds?” asked Subba.

Apart from job security, regularisation would entitle the employees to other statutory benefits like pension and gratuity.

“We want an audience with the chief principal secretary of the DGHC and if he calls us for a meeting within February 2, we might not have to gherao the Lal Kothi,” Subba added.

However, chief principal secretary D.T. Tamlong said: “As of now, I cannot say what the council will decide.” This means that the final decision, even on meeting the aggrieved workers, would be taken after seeking permission from GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh, the caretaker administrator of the council.

While DGHC Ashitya Karmarchari Sangatan is said to be apolitical and has been able to garner a lot of support, another set of employees have formed the Council Casual Workers’ Organisation, under the aegis of the GNLF, with the same demand. Party leaders have maintained that the Casual Workers’ Organisation would be allowed to function independently.