The untold story of Diphu Town Committee employees

Our correspondent Diphu , Dec. 13 (EMN): The Diphu town and markets within the area have been littered with garbage after the employees decided not to work since Sunday. The agitation was called by the staff of Diphu Town Committee (DTC) demanding the release of their pending salaries. For four days garbage dumping areas are being left untouched emanating odour from the market wastes. It may be mentioned that this year the staff of DTC has taken up strikes twice demanding pending salaries. The first was in May 4, while on Sept. 15 also the staff had ceased work until their demands were not met. An employee of DTC on condition of anonymity said that salaries of 52 months from 2011 till date were not cleared to them while lamenting that only few months salary were given to them during their last agitation. On the other hand a vegetable vendor passing a comment said they pay an amount of Rs. 20 every month to DTC for cleaning purposes. The DTC authority only knows to extract money from shopkeepers and vendors, but does not fulfil their duty of keeping the town clean. A fruit vendor then said that the first and foremost priority should be given to the sweeper section as they are the section of people who makes the town area clean while citing that they pay Rs. 40 every month as tax to DTC. The DTC employees informed that a demand has been given to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Executive Member In charge Town and Country planning, Ratan Teron on Dec. 7 regarding the problems failing on which the DTC would organise strike. After which the employees started off the agitation unanimously since Dec. 10, Sunday. While filling up this report, no meeting has been called to call off the agitation.