Staff lock up ASI office

TT, Malda, Feb. 2: An empty office of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) here was locked up by about 75 contractual workers demanding a raise in pay and regularisation of their jobs.

The ASI office is located along NH34 in a rented house in the Rathbari area of town and the demonstrators were there from 11am to 2pm.

With no official arriving, the demonstrators left after hanging a padlock on the door. The ASI authorities did not make any comment and did not even inform the police that their office had been locked up.

The office has a superintendent and five staff members.

Sources said the agitating staff members were posted at various archeological sites in Gour and Pandua.

"There are 75 contractual workers who look after the ruins in Gour and Pandua. They receive a monthly wage of Rs 8,599 but no other benefits that regular staff get. Despite several attempts to get them regularised, the ASI has remained apathetic to their demands," said Nazrul Islam, the district Intuc president.

He said the demonstration was held in protest against the recent appointment of a regular employee at Gour.

"The ASI has appointed a regular staff member while these 75 workers have been working for years, looking after the historic ruins," Islam said.

Islam said the demonstration was also held to demand the transfer of the newly-appointed staff member.

Subrata Nag Roy, the in-charge of the office here, refused to make any comment.