Port Blair, Jun 09: Mr. Vishal Jolly national Executive Member BJP and Former State President BJP A&N Islands and Member Home Ministry Advisory Committee, GoI has requested the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration to extend the financial benefit of 1/30th pay plus DA to the DRMs working under A&N Administration.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Jolly invited the attention to the matter and stated that the A&N Administration has taken a policy decision to enhance the wages of the DRMs engaged in various departments, organizations and autonomous bodies w.e.f 01st September 2017 vide A&N Administration O.M. No. 289, dated 22.09.2017 and the GoI O.M. No. 7-10/2016/PCC dated 31.03.2017.
In pursuance of the O.M dated 01.09.2017, the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) including some other departments under this administration has extended the 1/30th wages/pay plus DA to the DRMs who are working against a sanctioned post/strength.
He mentioned that similarly several other DRMs working in the same departments since long back still have not yet extended the above benefit of 1/30th Pay plus DA for various reasons. Such disparity of wages of DRMs working within the same departments deprived the legitimate rights of the poor workmen of the principle of equal pay for equal work.
In December 2019 the High Court of Calcutta (circuit bench) at Port Blair has passed a landmark judgment in the matter of extending 1/30th wages/pay in respect of daily rated mazdoors working in the Andaman Public Works department and resorting to the principle of equal pay for equal work, said that “an intelligible differentiation cannot be brought about between a daily rated casual worker engaged to do work against a sanctioned post and a worker engaged to do work against a post which is not sanctioned”.
Further, he invited the attention of DoPT OM No. 4901/1/2017-Estt. (C) dated 04th Sept’ 2019 wherein the Govt. of India Ministry of Personnel & PG and Pensions, New Delhi as very categorically stated for equal pay for equal work in compliance with the solemn order of the Apex Court and reiterated the rate of 1/30th of the pay at the minimum of the relevant pay scale plus dearness allowance for work of 8 hours a day to the DRMs.
It is pertinent to mention here that the costs of living on these islands are much more expensive in comparison to the other parts of India considering the geographical condition and being far away from the mainland. The minimum wages paid to the left-out DRMs are certainly not fulfilling the basic needs.
Accordingly, Mr. Jolly requested the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration to resolve the disparity and anomaly of wages between DRMs working in various departments under A&N Administration may be extended the wages 1/30th Pay plus DA in terms of the Administration’s OM No. 289, dated 22.09.2017 read with DoPT OM No. 4901/1/2017-Estt. (C) dated 04th Sept’ 2019 and also in compliance with the Apex Court for equal pay for equal works.