Creation of work charged post in N’kanan zoo demanded

BARANG: Members of the Nandankanan Workers Union (NWU) have been demanding before the State Government for the creation of work charged post in the Nandankanan Zoological Park, but they are yet to get any concrete information regarding their appointment, stated NWU secretary Prafulla Kumar Behera expressing grave concern over the delay in taking final decision in the issue.

Behera said the Union had staged nine days of strike started from February 22 this year demanding wage hike and permanent jobs of 117 temporary workers of the zoo. They had called off the strike after getting positive assurance from the State Government on March 2.

At the behest of Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests JD Sharma to discuss the demands of the workers, but they are still waiting for the positive decision of the State Government in favour of the Union, lamented Behera.

On the problems of the workers, Union’s chief patron MLA Debasis Samantaray had written a letter on June 28 to Routray requesting for joint discussion to create work charged post in the zoo. Even he had urged Routray to hold a joint discussion with the Finance Minister in presence of NWU office bearers for amicable settlement of the grievances, but the Union could not get any reply from the Minister regarding their joint discussion, said the NWU secretary.