Protests rend air at Dispur Last Gate

From a staff reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 5:  With the Assam Assembly Session beginning on Monday, Dispur Last Gate wore a different look on Tuesday as slogans from protestors rent the air.

The Assam Rural Library Employees’ Association protested at Dispur Last Gate demanding regularization of the post of librarians and forth grade employees of the government recognized rural libraries in the State, to pay ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to each of the employees going to retire. The Directorate of Library Service under the Department of Cultural Affairs has 204 recognized rural libraries across the State.

“We want the government initiate in framing a public library Act for smooth functioning of libraries,” said association president Bijit Bora.

The association also put forward its demand for the filling up of the vacant post of librarians and other allied posts.

The Assam State Asha Union also placed a slew of demands before the government. The union demanded recognition of ASHA workers like other government employees, increment in incentives, pension and free medical facilities, among others. 

The Obodo Suraksha Samiti, Axom staged a dhar and pressed the State Government to conduct an inquiry into the murder of the student leader Lafiqul Islam. The Samiti wants to put an end to the division of Assam in the me of Bodoland.  One of the highlights of the 13-points charter of demands of the organization is the revision of the Bodo Accord and taking out the non-Bodo villages from the jurisdiction of the Bodo Territorial Council.

In a bid to place its demand at the Assembly Session, the th Yogi Tribal Autonomous Council Demand Committee has demanded for a Satellite Autonomous Council for th and Yogi community.

Making a similar move, organizations like All Assam Heads of the Department Ministerial Officers’ Association and the Amri Karbi Autonomous Demand Movement Committee have also staged demonstrations in order to press the State government to fulfill their demands.