Port Blair, June 20: At the call of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, New Delhi, the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands organised an Evening Mass Dharna today at Tiranga Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in support of the 15-point demands which include (1) Setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission to effect wage revision of central government employees (2) immediate merger of 50% DA with pay,(3) to withdraw PFRDA Bill from the Parliament and to ensure Pension to all government employees, (4) remove ban on creation of posts and recruitment, (5) stop price rise and strengthen the Public Distribution System, (6) Stop downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatisation and privatization of Governmental functions; (7) Revise the OTA and Night duty allowance and clothing rates of uniforms, etc. The demands also included some local demands. The Mass Dharna was led by Shri D. Ayyappan, General Secretary, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association.
Shri B.Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU, Andaman and Nicobar State Committee addressed the Mass Dharna and conveyed support of the CITU to the programmes being organised by the Association.
Shri Stephen Fernandez (Circle Secretary, Postal Union) and leaders of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association Shri Sadanand Rai, President, Shri H L Prasad, Vice President, Shri T.S. Sreekumar, Asst. General Secretary, Shri Sreedharan, Vice President, Secretariat Sub-Committee and Shri SL Vinjit, Joint Secretary, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch also addressed the Mass Dharna.
They expressed their anguish and concern over the government’s anti-employee and wrong economic policies which lead to the ever increasing price rise and shrinking government sector. Association leaders also expressed their concern over the growing corruption in the islands. They said that a large number of issues of government employees are pending before the central government and A&N Administration. The meeting expressed concern over the non-filling up of hundreds of posts in various departments under the Administration particularly in APWD. The Mass Dharna concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Shri Anand Raj, Secretary, Secretariat Sub-Committee.