3,000 contract workers on temporary leave!

Belthangady: The state Backward Welfare Department has all of a sudden sent more than 3,000 contract workers managing kitchen work at its hostels on temporary leave.

3,312 people were managing the cooking work. On April 10^th, they were suddenly sent on a temporary leave and presently the workers and their families are in a state of helplessness as they now neither have a job nor did they get their four months’ salary.

Previously, in accordance with the new direction from the government in January 2019, the service period was extended for 6 months excluding the 2 months of holiday. Although the officials assure that the work will be assigned after June, a few workers express doubt stating that the work is not guaranteed.

Degree exams are yet to begin in the state and there are at least more than 50 students in various hostels. Hence the sudden temporary vacation has given rise to suspicion. Last year, close to 4,500 cooks and helpers were directly appointed to the 2,438 BCM hostels in the state. Then, the workers who were being utilized through external contract where notified to be released from the work. This decision by the government attracted widespread outrage.

Not compatible

Almost half of the newly appointed staff by the government have no clue on how to cook. Even though they are paid twice the salary in comparison to the current workers, they fail to deliver their work on time. They are not compatible with the students as well. During the examination period, there are problem s with regard to food and snacks. The students too are urging that the work period of the contract workers should be extended.

The opinion is that the government is stumbling in its attempts to provide employment to cooks and helpers at the hostels in the state and the workers are urging that the Chief Minister should take notice of the issue. The workers have discussed their issue with the Backward Classes Welfare Department Minister C Puttaranga Shetty and Social Welfare Department Minister Priyank Kharge and are in wait for a date to hold a meeting in the presence of the CM.

“In accordance to the government’s order the service period of the kitchen workers at the hostels has been postpones to 6 months from January. The decision of further extending the period is left to the government,” said H G Prabhakar, Joint Director, State Backward Classes Welfare Department

“The contract workers managing work at 73 hostels in the district have been sent on temporary leave considering the number of students. In accordance to the order from higher officials, the workers have been notified to report back to service from the first week of June,” informed Mohammed Siyar, District Officer, DK District Backward Classes Welfare Department