UDAIPUR / PALATANA, June 2 (TIWN): After tolerating the continuos unbearable attitude of Vice President Sudin Chattopadhyay for the last few months OTPC helpers and workers are now planning to create a deadlock by calling a strike in the plant soon. According to a highly placed source in OTPC it is learnt that ever since assuming the post of Vice President Sudin has been working quite arbitrarily with all the workers , helpers and even with the technical staffs . Being furious with this type of attitude workers once met with Power Minister Manik Dey and Labour Minister Shahid Choudhury . But both the ministers are said to have responded negatively with them and virtually turned down their requests to listen to their problems; rather it is learnt that Manik Dey spoke in favour of Sudin Chattopadhyay defusing the claims of the helpers. TRIPURAINFOWAY published a news item about the irregularities being perpetrated by the Vice President Sudin in recruiting his relatives and close aids in various important posts depriving the qualified persons of Tripura.

VP Sudin Chattopadhyay violating the agreement made when S K Dube was the CMD and Mukul Banerjee was the GM. A highly placed sources in OTPC informed TIWN on Wednesday that another person , neighbour of Sudin and a resident of Hooghly District of West Bengal has been appointed by the VP. The newly appointed lucky person is S K Saha of Hooghly District and known to be very close to Sudin. He has been appointed to the post of Civil Consultant though there are so many Civil Engineers in Tripura.

It is interesting to note that previously before any kind of recruitment advertisement were to be published in leading local dailies. But once Sudin takes the charge no advertisement is being made published for public notification. This is nothing but  complete irregularities as far as the plant is a joint venture of ONGC and Gov't of Tripura. Moreover, even the neighbouring country Bangladesh too is a beneficiary of this plant .

During S K Dube's tenure a written agreement was signed that in case of any recruitment in helper category they would be given salary for the Sundays and other public holidays. These helpers are given the minimum wages fixed by the state gov't. Thus, inspite of hard work these workers are being forced to remain quiet even after getting this very little amount as salary per month . For the last few months they have been demanding for hike in their salary. The helpers' demand is rise of 35-40% of the current salary. Sudin initially agreed to increase 20% . But along with this hike he tries to impose a very strict condition that these helpers won't get salary for the Sundays and other public holidays.

If the helpers agree with the new salary hike likely to be imposed soon , it would mean that they will lose at least Rs 750-800 per month due to four Sundays and the amount may also increase if there is public holiday is included. Presently they are getting around Rs 6000/- to Rs 7000/- per month. And the imposition of new hike would not give any practical benefit to them. In order to solve the issue helpers' union met with Power Minister Manik Dey and Labour Minister Shahid Choudhury and twice meeting was held in presence of Sudin Chattopadhyay. But no solution came as Sudin did not agree to pay salary for Sundays or public holidays.

 A top level official told the very truth saying ," Already TSECL has huge amount of debts to OTPC. Quite naturally Manik Dey won't try to do anything that may enrage Sudin and other OTPC top brass. Already OTPC has threatened to cut off power supply due to the failure of debts. " Thus , to some extent state gov't can't force the OTPC officials in this regard. Interestingly most of these helpers belong to CPI-M's labour organization CITU of which Manik Dey is one of the most powerful leaders in the state. Being angry with this attitude helpers union staged dharnas in front of the main gate for 7 days but under tremendous pressure from CITU's Udaipur leaders they were forced to call off their movement.

 Meanwhile a top level OTPC official told this correspondent that Sudin's behaviour towards other staff including some from the management is quite unbearable. They extremely insulted. The official said ," Sudin actually wants that if someone feels insulted he may opt for resignation and thus he will get an opportunity to recruit another person , who too would be very close to him. But majority of the employees having no other alternative have to bear with him. " But there are some who protest and face the ultimatum. Even on Wednesday Assistant Manager of Electrical Division Tapas Karmakar has resigned from his post failing to bear with this type of insult. A source closed ti him said that within a day or two Tapas Karmakar is scheduled to leave for Silchar , his home ground.

 What surprises the bulk of staffs working in the plant is that inspite of holding such a prestigious post with lucrative salary package how Sudin is shamelessly trying to recruit his family members , friends , close aids including his wife and some of his in-laws. But due to debts towards OTPC state  gov't is unable is helpless.