Dimapur, May 28 (MExN): The Nagaland Government Registered Class—I Contractors’ Union (NGRC—ICU) held its executive meeting on May 23 in Kohima where a thorough review was done with regard to the functioning of the union besides other pertinent issues with regard to government contracts and supplies. During the day-long meeting a presentation was also made on how to ensure quality of works to be done in the state by Kezhokhoto Savi, President N.V.C.O.
A press note issued by the President KC Angami, General Secretary L. Pukhato Shohe and Joint Secretary L. Mhalie Zatsu informed on the agendas which were discussed at the meeting. This included union fund and initiating fund drive, wherein it was unanimously decided to buy land to construct Union office building at the earliest. While discussing on the immediate requirement of union fund for the maintenances in the present building and the buying of land and the construction of Union Permanent Office Building, the union decided to raise the yearly member renewal fees to Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 7,500 for the new entry.
The union also resolved that with effect from June 1, 2009, the union member/ contractor has to pay to the union the 0.25 %( as commission towards the construction of office building) of every project /work order which is more than a crore and a lump sum of 20,000 (Rupees twenty thousand) only for the work order/ project amount less than a crore (Rupees one crore). And in this regard the union will write to the Chief Engineers and the others to endorse a copy of every work order to the office of the Nagaland Government Registered class-I Contractors’ Union so as to enables the officials/ committee to check their members towards the payment of the above mentioned commissioned towards the union fund.
It also resolved that every class-I contractors has to compulsory register themselves with NRGC-ICU and update their yearly renewal membership in their time failing which they would be in trouble during their participation of any tender or to get any work as class-I contractors. The union will pressed the authority not to entertain the documents of class-I contractors without producing a valid NRGC-ICU Identity card. The union will be issuing a new better identity card to its members. A team will go down to Dimapur for union fund drive, the press note informed.
The union has decided to advertise in local paper for the appointment of Office Manager at a monthly salary of Rs. 15,000 with minimum requisite qualification B.E preferably an expert retired engineer. Meanwhile on the issue of Govt. employees/ other professionals getting into contract & supply works, the NRGC-ICU stated that this amounted to misconduct as per govt services rules. It argued that professions other than contractors involving in contract works and supply as contractors and suppliers was unethical and amounted to professional misconduct. “Not only the govt. employees and professional but it does also involves the politicians/ Ministers by grabbing the works by way of manipulation and awarding the work to their own children, relatives and people of their choice where they can have the bigger share.” The NRGC-IC claimed that these were the main causes for not bringing quality of works in the state.
The union re-affirmed its earlier resolution to fight for justice in ensuring tender norms by giving another reminder to all the Departments to floats Open Tender in awarding works and supplies as per NPWD code and CPWD code. The union also reaffirmed their earlier resolution in taking stern action against their members who are parting/giving their writing pad to the unauthorised persons in contract works and supplies. The union also resolved to report to the concerned department in respect to the government employees involving in contract and supplies. “Any citizens be it govt. employees, professionals, political/ minister can become a contractor or any supplier by registering themselves with the competent authority, but it is a must for these people to resign from government service, give up their profession, resign from their present responsibility and join the contractor fraternity as one cannot hold two different professions which is unethical and also amounting to professional misconduct,” it stated.
The union informed that it will be writing to all departments not to award any works or suppliers to the unauthorised persons pointing out that it cannot tolerate this illegal practice anymore and thereby requesting the politicians/ ministers not to indulge themselves into this illegal practice. “Failing which the union will take any course by taking initiative by implicate the government employees/Professionals other than contractors’ fraternity and even stopped the payment. Until the above mentioned practice is stopped in developmental works the contractors’ fraternity cannot be blamed for not ensuring quality works,” it stated.
One of the union’s senior most Advisors Yashitsungba Ao also advised the union to remain strong and jointly fight against the injustices especially the exploitation and manipulation meted out to the contractors by the authorities/politicians in the award of works in the state. He further said that the contractors’ fraternity played a very important role in the society towards the development of infrastructures and to ensure quality of works to be done.
