Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 November 2025
The Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (ASNVMS), affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a mass demonstration on 20th November 2025, in front of the office of the Chief Engineer, Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), Sri Vijaya Puram. The protest was organised to press for key demands including regularisation of Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs), rectification of the policy denying weekly off when a day’s leave or Industrial Holiday is availed, and the settlement of long-pending issues concerning regular employees and workers.
During the agitation, a delegation led by ASNVMS President B. Chandrachoodan met the Chief Engineer in his chamber and submitted a memorandum highlighting the workers’ grievances. The Chief Engineer reportedly assured the delegation that necessary instructions would be issued to all Executive Engineers to ensure full wages — equivalent to 30 days — are paid to DRMs.
Addressing the gathering, Chandrachoodan affirmed that the Union would continue to pursue both agitation and legal measures to secure regularisation for DRMs. He urged daily rated workers across departments to remain united under the CITU banner to sustain the struggle for their rights. Union leaders including General Secretary S.P. Kalairajan, Treasurer Anand Rajan, and CITU State Committee Secretary P. Sathyapal also spoke at the protest.
A large number of workers from Sri Vijaya Puram town and rural areas of South Andaman participated in the demonstration.
