More talks on casual workers' pink slip

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 26: Officials of the directorate of local bodies would visit English Bazaar Municipality on 30 July to discuss the contentious issue of retrenchment of 450 casual workers with the civic authorities.It may be recalled that the board of councillors of the Congress-led English Bazaar Municipality (EBM), comprising Left and non-Left members, had recently adopted a unanimous resolution against carrying out the retrenchment order of the directorate of local bodies (DLB).According to official sources, the DLB officials would also inspect utilisation of government funds allotted to the municipality for implementation of solid waste management project in the town. The DLB, it may be recalled, had warned the civic body chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari that it would appoint an administrator to look after the financial transactions of the municipality if casual workers engaged since 1992 were not retrenched. Thus, the DLB officials' decision to check accounts of government funds has worried the EBM authorities. The DLB has questioned the integrity of the civic board in utilising government funds following a complaint lodged by members of the CPI-M back workers' union of the municipality. It was alleged that the civic body had diverted government funds to ensure payment of the casual workers of the municipality. Although the civic body had discontinued 21 casual workers following the DLB's order, the board of councillors of the municipality held a meeting and decided not to execute the DLB's second order of retrenching 450 workers.Meanwhile, led by Sujapur MLA and Malda district Congress president Ms Rubi Noor, the Congress councillors of the EBM today held a demonstration. "There is no question of retrenching the workers," Ms Noor, said. "I would discuss the issue with Mr Asok Bhattacharya and the CM," she added. "If the DLB appoints an administrator to look after financial transactions, the civic body chief will resign," said Congress councillor and in-charge of water supplies Mr Asish Kundu.