Regional Director SNS Rao, when reminded about the labourers’ claim that they don’t deserve to get axed after 20 years of service, told The Indian Express today: “On paper, we have around 45 security labours, 20 cleaning labourers and 27 horticulture labourers. I have come to know that the average age of most of these labourers is 35 years. So, how could they claim that they have been working here for the last 20 years? All these labourers had been employed by the Asian Security Agency (ASA) on contractual basis. But our contract with the ASA already expired on December 31 last year. In spite of that, they have been retained in their respective jobs on extension till March 31. Now, they are demanding renewal of their contracts. And SAI, not being their employer, cannot give them contracts.”
The situation worsened on March 27 when representatives from a new agency, Panther Security Service (PSS), were badly beaten up while trying to submit bids against the new tender. And the Regional Director was threatened not to float any new tender inviting lower prices than the previous one.
Rao said: “I have already sent notes to our head office in New Delhi. And I will also go to New Delhi on April 8 for a detailed discusion with Deputy General regarding the issue before the next steps are taken. At the same time, I also have intimated the previous security agency to withdraw all of its security guards, who have been creating trouble, by April 30. If they do not follow this, then the ASA’s total security money will be forfeited.”
The CITU leaders of West Bengal Security Association (WBSA) meanwhile got involved in the matter, approaching the director not to violate the West Bengal Security Act 2007 by cutting down on amenities of the security guards who have been working at the SAI Centre for a long time. Rao said: “The amenities do not mean that I will provide them permanent jobs at the SAI. And they are not our staffers.”
However, reacting to the whole incident, CPI(M) MP and former international athlete, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, who had once come forward to help the distressed security people, told this daily: “The Regional Director has no right to terminate the secutiry guards jobs who have been working at the SAI for more than 10 years. More importantly, the guards used to receive paltry salaries of about Rs 4,000 every month. On top of that, their salaries were further docked the director of Rs 2,000. Is it possible for any person to run his family with Rs 2,000? It is the reason why the director wants to bring the new agency on a really low tender so that these guards and other labourers don’t get the benefits of improved salaries.”