Party demands removal of Nazir, reinstatement of 10 workers and grant of RCW status under 1996 scheme

Shillong, September 11: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has alleged irregularities, favouritism and nepotism in the engagement and deployment of daily-wage workers under the Nazarat wing of the Secretariat Administration Department (SAD).

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister in charge of SAD, KHNAM Working President Thomas Passah claimed that information obtained through multiple Right to Information (RTI) applications indicated a lack of transparency in the engagement and deployment of such workers.

Passah said the party had previously raised the matter with the Chief Secretary and the Secretary of SAD but alleged that no corrective measures had been initiated.

According to KHNAM, hundreds of daily-wage workers have been engaged by SAD (Nazarat) over the years and are paid according to wage rates periodically notified by the Labour Department. However, the party alleged that there is no clearly defined recruitment or rotational system for assigning duties.

Citing an RTI response, Passah claimed that the department has no specific guidelines governing the engagement of daily-wage workers. He alleged that workers are called for duty over the phone and that the authority to decide who receives work rests largely with the Nazir of SAD (Nazarat), creating scope for favouritism and manipulation.

KHNAM further alleged that around 10 workers who had served the department for more than a decade were removed after the present Nazir assumed charge. The party claimed that the workers were denied Regular Casual Worker (RCW) status under the Regular Casual Worker Scheme, 1996, and were replaced by individuals allegedly close to certain departmental officials.

The party also alleged that some daily-wage workers are discontinued for two or three months before being recalled, while others are allowed to continue working without interruption due to their alleged connections with the Nazir and an Under Secretary.

KHNAM demanded the immediate removal of the present Nazir and the appointment of a competent official in his place.

The party also urged the State Government to reinstate the 10 affected workers and grant them RCW status in accordance with the 1996 scheme.

The allegations made by KHNAM are based on the party’s interpretation of information obtained through RTI applications and have not been independently verified.