Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 28 July 2023
A delegation led by D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] A & N State Organising Committee, along with R. Surendran Pillai, President, and SP Kalairajan, Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) A & N State Committee, held a significant meeting with the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration recently. During the meeting, they brought forth a range of issues concerning workers in various departments and the plight of unemployed youths in the region.
One of the main topics of discussion was the demand for upper age relaxation for various posts in the Education Department. Ayyappan highlighted the request he had previously made, emphasising that the posts of Post Graduate Teachers (PGT) and Graduate Trained Teachers (GTT) were advertised during May and June 2023 after a gap of seven years. Drawing attention to the past recruitment cycles in 2013 and 2016, he pointed out that during those years, an upper age relaxation of eight years was provided to all eligible candidates, and he urged the same to be followed for the current recruitment drive.
Additionally, the delegation raised concerns about the disengagement of daily-rated workers and the subsequent recruitment of new workers in the Environment & Forest Department. Ayyappan and other leaders pressed for job continuity for all daily-rated workers to protect their livelihoods and ensure job security.
Furthermore, the delegation brought to the Chief Secretary’s attention the issue of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) subscription for daily-rated mazdoors and contract employees working in various departments. Despite repeated requests from unions and concerned employees, the EPF deductions were reportedly not being carried out, leading to growing concerns about the financial well-being of these workers.