Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 August 2023
Mr. Vishal Jolly, National Executive Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former State President of BJP-ANI, has made a formal request to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for the release of 1/30th pay with arrears dating back to September 2017 to all DRMs.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Mr. Jolly highlighted the long-standing issue raised by the Andaman Nicobar Rajya Karmachari Mahasangh, during the year 2022. The federation has been advocating for the granting of 1/30th of Pay to all Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs). The matter has seen several protests, with the BJP showing its support for the cause at various levels.
Thanks to the collective efforts, the authorities intervened and granted 1/30th of Pay to all DRMs, acknowledging the importance of their demands. However, Mr. Jolly underscored that the party has continued to advocate for the retrospective effect of this decision from September 2017. This means that the DRMs are seeking arrears for the past years during which the demand was pending.
Mr. Jolly expressed the collective hope of all working DRMs that the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor will consider their plea and sanction the 1/30th pay with retrospective effect from September 2017. He emphasised that such a favourable decision would not only address the long-standing concerns of the workers but also serve the larger interest of the working class.