Darj civic workers go on hunger strike

Demands raised by the DNKS include payment of pending salary (38 days  and 60 days) for the year 2017, implementation of pay band, along with increase in dailywages, and solution to problems related to died-in-harness cases.

SNS, DARJEELING. 14 SEPTEMBER 2020 : Continuing with their protest programmes for various demands, the TMC (Hills)- affiliated Darjeeling Nagarpalika Karmachari Sangathan (DNKS) today launched a relay hunger strike.

The workers of the Municipality have already held programmes like gate meetings and a pen-down strike for their various demands recently.

"This is another phase of our programmes for our demands.This relay hunger strike will continue till the 28th of this month and will have five people taking part in it, with another group replacing them after 24 hours," DNKS assistant secretary Pranay Sharma said.

"We hope that before the 28th, 30 percent of our demands will be met, as from the 29th we are closing down essential services of the civic body also," he said, adding that it meant services like electricity, water distribution and garbage collection would be disrupted.

The different demands raised by the DNKS include payment of pending salary (38 days  and 60 days) for the year 2017, implementation of pay band, along with increase in dailywages, and solution to problems related to died-in-harness cases.

Other demands are filling up of vacant posts of group B,C and D workers, with casual workers in the municipality to be regularised in it, starting of online system of Service Book and increase in the number of workers of the Municipality from 539.

The DNKS is also threatening a fast-unto-death if their demands are not met, while they are further planning to go to Kolkata to take up their issues with authorities concerned.