AGARTALA, November 9 (TIWN): Tripura Government undertaking Employees and Workers Federation (TGUEWF) organized 4 hrs sit-in- demonstration on Sunday. They have raised various important demands to the Government for employees.

The federation had started their sit-in- demonstration near Orient Chowhumani on Sunday morning. The delegation led by the President Samar Roy and General Secretary Subhas Sutradhar raised prominent demands including

1. The pension of PSU employees, Jute-mill workers and retired employees,

2. Addition of Employement in Die-in- harness , promotion, LTC, Medical Re- Imbursement in PSU and Jute-mills.

3. All the employees including the retired ones of PSU should be given pension with effect from the year 1995. Other than that Central Pay Scale and the owing allowances should also be under prime category.

4. The age limit of the Group –D- employees should be extended to 2 years.

5. The employees of TRTC, including retired ones must be given Leave salary with effect from the year 1995.

6. The employees of Tripura State Electricity Corporation should be given same preference as of other employees etc.

Clarifying their demands, President Samar Roy mentioned that in recent days all the employees including PSU are facing acute crisis because of the step- motherly attitude of the Government. They were not given proper pension and other affordable services. In the present so-called “Golden Age”. “PSU workers in Tripura are suffering from lack of right to pension, medical insurance and other benefits”, Roy said. The Federation said that the state government’s stand of waiting for 14th Finance Commission awards before declaring any additional awards for employees and pensioners would lead to catastrophic results in the entire period of the Commission’s operation.

He also alleged that, though the pension scheme has been introduced in Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) and some government affiliated private schools but there is no initiative has been taken for PSUs till date. The jute-mill workers are not getting salary as the state government employees are getting. No leave salary is available in Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC). The PSU employees are being deprived from almost all the facilities. Many of the retired PSU employees including many jute-mill workers committed suicide in the left front led ‘golden era’ to get relief from the hideous pain. But the state government is still maintaining silent despite repeated letter from the federation

Other than that, the Federation also demanded that the responsibility of the PSU workers, those who are included in the EPF pension scheme should be taken by the Government. As their consent are not taken before the inclusion in EPF pension. If there is the good-will of the Government, then the accounts of the employees should be transferred from EPF to GPF. Mr. Roy further added that the federation had already submitted a deputation letter to the Chief Minister and others. But no proper answer was received from them yet.

It is to be mentioned here that, The Federation will hold a central convention at the Agartala city in January next year.