Itanagar Traffic Wardens (ITW) hold peaceful protest rally

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Itanagar Traffic Wardens (ITW) took out a peaceful protest rally demanding the State Government to regularize the ITW under Home department and fully-fledged introduction of ITW in Traffic Cell, Itanagar from Akashdeep to IG Park here on Monday.

The protest rally was participated by around 40 ITWs among the total of 158, following the failure of the State Government to meet their two-point charter of demands.

Speaking to the reporters, 4th batch of ITW Lomra Tapa said that the State Government had repeatedly failed to act on their demands for the introduction of fully fledged ITWs into Traffic Cell, Itanagar. For which, a written assurance was earlier issued by the then Chief Secretary of State on January 22, 2017.

He said that the second demand included the regularization of ITWs into the Home Department, which is a continuation of a cabinet note on March 13, 2015 made by the Principal Secretary, Home Department.

"Despite the repeated plea and passing of almost a decade, the State Government has failed to address our grievances which has compelled the ITWs to go for the peaceful protest today," he said, adding that the ITW would wait for the response, failing to which the ITW would go for further course of action.

He said that the demands of ITW were genuine and not 'illegal'. "The traffic police have been working hard without any life insurance," he added. He also informed that the ITW had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister earlier. Accordingly, members of ITW were called on by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) to discuss the matter.

"The CMO has specifically stated that the job is a 'volunteer job' and an undertaking was signed for it. It also said that the regularization of ITW is not possible," he said.

Responding to the words from CMO, he said that earlier the ITW were appointed on master roll or engagement, which was completed by the year 2017. Thereafter, every appointment was done as 'contingency' by the then DC Prince Dhawan, he added.

"We are demanding because it's our right and also because we have to fulfill the basic needs of our family. We also hope that the demands of the ITW will be discussed and accordingly accepted during the coming assembly session, which is supposed to be held on August 27," he said.

The ITW also appealed to the Chief Minister to meet the wardens and listen to their grievances and accordingly resolve them.

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