New Delhi, April 3: The Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma today raised the issue of granting enhanced wage of 1/30th Pay at minimum of relevant basic pay plus Dearness Allowance to 2000 odd long serving DRMs of APWD and all the DRMs working in various departments of A&N Administration, in the Parliament.
He informed the Parliament that the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) employs regular staff, along with casual workers and persons on daily wages known as Daily Rated Mazdoor or DRM's. The APWD also undertakes the task of providing the islanders with drinking water, roads, and bridges.
The Member of Parliament informed the Parliament that the DRMs, however are paid very less for which they approached the Calcutta High Court which had ordered that a daily-rated casual worker engaged by the Andaman & Nicobar administration in any of its department is entitled to 1/30th of the pay at the minimum of the relevant pay scale plus dearness allowance for work of eight hours a day, as specified by the Government of India.
He also mentioned that there are long standing demands to implement this judgment which has been upheld by the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court in December 2022.
In this regard the Member of Parliament requested the Government to grant enhanced wage of 1/30th Pay at minimum of relevant basic pay plus Dearness Allowance to 2000 odd long serving DRMs of APWD and all the DRMs working in various departments of A&N Administration w.e.f. 01.09.2017 who were left out for want of vacant sanctioned posts.
In addition to this, he requested the Government to regularize the services of all the DRMs.