Morung Express News
Kohima | October 24
The All Nagaland PWD Field Workers’ Association, PWD (R&B) Housing & National Highway commemorated its 25 years on October 24 with Tongpang Ozukum, Minister NPWD as the special guest. The celebration was held at the NPWD Guest House, Conference Hall, Kohima.
Formed purely as a voluntary organization, the Association was registered on March 24, 1993 with the motto ‘Dignity of Labour’. In his presidential address, K Atovi Awomi, President (ANPWDFWA) stated that the Association was formed with the objective to promote the welfare of the employees and their families ‘as and when necessary’. Awomi acknowledged the founders of the Association who took the responsibility to safeguard and highlight the welfare of the employees and help take the Association to a historical milestone today.
Reiterating the PDA government’s commitment on the development of roads, Minister Tongpang Ozukum reminded the field workers on their responsibilities in maintaining the roads.
‘We need infrastructure and road in Nagaland’
“In Nagaland, we need infrastructure and road. This is the government’s priority and our duty,” said Ozukum who also informed that the second phase of road construction/repair will begin very soon. Sharing experiences on his visit to the districts, Ozukum express disappointment over the absence of work charge employees in many sites of road constructions. “There are many work charge employees on the list I saw very few of them during my visit,” stated Ozukum.
He said that every year, the government spends around 80-100 crore on work charge salaries, mentioned Ozukum while adding that 94 crores was spent this year on the same. With reports on bogus employees, the need to monitor and clear the bogus employees and identify genuine ones was pointed out.
“We keep saying we need development and the first thing that comes to mind is roads. Because we don’t generate much revenue, it hampers development. Road is a major priority for the PDA government. Centre does not provide schemes for maintenance of roads, only for construction of new roads. We have to develop the generation of revenue. Even if we don’t have resources, roads become important. A positive impact is the growing realization on the value and importance of drainage systems,” he stated.
Congratulating the Association for achieving 25 years, Er Krosü Rhetso, E-in-C, NPWD, Nagaland, advised the Association to plan out their activities and programmes for the future and work cohesively in order to secure a better future for future field workers.
Short speeches were delivered by BK Alum Chang, President, TDFWA, and Khevito Zhimo, Former President. Reminding the gathering of the past, BK Alum Chang mentioned that till 1999, the employment of work charge employees had become a field of politics which had created a lot of problems and challenges in the department and experienced even today. Chang however acknowledged the positive changes that is slowly taking place and urged the field workers to diligently serve the government.
Highlighting the problems of field workers, Chang mentioned that the work charge employees, although, work very hard during road constructions, they are not entitled to monthly salaries and, therefore, requested the government consider their struggles.
NPWD working on procedures to regularize work-charge employees During the 25 years celebration of the All Nagaland PWD Field Workers’ Association, Er Krosü Rhetso, E-in-C, NPWD, Nagaland informed that the Nagaland Public Works Department is currently working on a strategy to regularize the work charge employees under the leadership of Minister Tongpang Ozukum. Er. Rhetso mentioned that under the procedure 67 percent will be allotted for regularizing of work-charge employees while 35 percent will be allotted for new appointments. “Very soon we will be able to enjoy the fruit,” said Er. Rhetso.
Acknowledging the same, Minister Tongpang Ozukum urged the department to make efforts in phasing out bogus work-charge employees. Ozukum also informed that regularization of 87 employees who have worked for 30 years have been made while 125 more are on the process regularization.
