ITANAGAR, 2 May: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Labourers Union, Northeast region, urged MLA Phurpa Tsering to raise key labour issues in the state Assembly and with Chief Minister Pema Khandu for the welfare of workers.
In a memorandum submitted to Tsering on 1 May, the union demanded that recruitment under the BRO for posts like pioneer, driver, helper, electrician, mistry, and carpenter be conducted in Arunachal for deployment under Projects Vartak, Arunank, Udayak and Brahmank. It also sought a reservation quota for unemployed youths of the state, and urged the MLA to take up the matter with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the defence secretary.
The union said thousands of regular BRO jobs are filled through the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) in Pune, Maharashtra, but local youths miss out due to lack of information and the long distance to recruiting centres. It said that the Army and paramilitary forces like the SSB, ITBP, and NDRF conduct recruitment rallies in Arunachal.
The union further demanded cancellation of tender works under different BRO projects in the state, except for specialised and emergency border works. It stated that most of the jobs under the BRO in the state are done through contractors, leading to the discharge of casual paid labourers who have worked with the BRO since 1960.
The union said thousands of families depend on the BRO for their livelihood, but contract work is creating unemployment.
The union also demanded release of pension benefits under the Arunachal Pradesh Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, stating that registered workers have not been paid since its introduction in 2006.
The union urged Tsering to take up with the CM and the board the matter of releasing pension and disability pension immediately, along with arrears, for those who have attained 60 years of age and are members of the welfare board.
