State govt retains 650 casual workers recruited during Left regime

BALURGHAT: In a historic move, Trinamool Congress-led Balurghat civic board has retained 650 casual workers, who were mostly recruited through NGOs during the Left regime.

After coming to power, the new Trinamool board had started the process of retaining them so that they can work till the age of 60.

According to an official source, it was due to the lackadaisical attitude of the erstwhile Left government due to which the casual workers had not been retained

during the Left regime.

Visibly overwhelmed Subrata Chakraborty, the leader of civic employees' association said: "No doubt the decision is historic.

The casual workers will work till the age of 60 without discontinuation.

We had earlier demanded the issue of their retention to the Left board also but our demand was vehemently ignored. We are grateful to the new board."

Notably, Balurghat Municipality was recently felicitated by the Centre and a fund amounting around to Rs 9, 00, 000, 00 has been sanctioned to implement various development projects undertaken by the

present board.

Civic chairman Rajen Shill said: "We were being honoured by the Centre recently and stood second, next to Gaighata civic body of North 24 Paraganas in the state, regarding the matter of running flawless administration and various civic activities. A fund has also been allocated as recognition."

Answering a question about the retention of casual workers waiting for over four decades, Shill said: "We had promised to the casual workers for retention while took charge of the new board. There will be no job

insecurity for them."