Port Blair, Feb 20: Shri B. Chandrachoodan, President and Shri SP Kalairajan, General Secretary of the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (Affiliated to CITU) met the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (PWD), Andaman & Nicobar Administration on 17th February, 2023 and demanded immediate grant of Non-Productivity Linked Adhoc Bonus to all the daily rated mazdoors working in the APWD.
The delegation told the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (PWD) that the decision of the Administration to limit the grant of Bonus only to those DRMs who have been benefitted with the 1/30th of pay plus DA is sheer violation of the orders of the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India on the issue of Adhoc bonus. Nowhere in the orders issued by the Govt. of India there is any categorization of DRMs with 1/30th of pay plus DA and other DRMs. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has misinterpreted the orders of the Govt. of India and illegally trying to deny the benefit to all daily rated workers.
The delegation further brought to the notice of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (PWD) that the Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta (Port Blair Circuit Bench) on 19th December, 2022 had directed the A & N Administration and Govt. of India to grant 1/30th of pay plus DA to all the daily rated mazdoors working under the Administration and the two months’ time granted by the Court to implement the order is almost over. In view of the said order of the Hon’ble High Court, all the DRMs working under the A & N Administration are eligible for 1/30th of pay plus DA and as such all DRMs are eligible for Bonus also.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (PWD) assured the delegation that the issue will be examined further and appropriate action will be taken immediately.