As part of their phase-wise agitation against non-payment of salaries to 66 regularised operation and maintenance staff (OMS) since January 2023, the members of the All Nagaland Electricity Field Workers Association (ANEFWA) began phase-I protest by wearing black badge across the state on Wednesday.
ANEFWA at an emergency executive meeting on August 25, 2023 resolved to launch phase-wise agitation starting from August 30, 2023. During phase-I agitation, all field staff members would wear black badge for three days as a sign of protest.
During phase-II, all field staff members would go on a mass casual leave besides each district would send four representatives/volunteers to the Headquarters Kohima for coordinated action.
In Dimapur, members of ANEFWA zonal Dimapur besides wearing black badge put up banners that read “We resent the government’s exploitative attitude of non-payment to members of ANEFWA in spite of its command to perform government bona fide duties.”
Speaking to Nagaland Post, ANEFWA Zonal Dimapur president, Alangba, claimed that over 300 field workers in Dimapur supported ANEFWA’s stand. Alangba said that the workers after a gruelling 5-year labour training phase and a subsequent 5-year fixed pay tenure, faced a rigorous skill-based selection.
He said that those who emerged successful were promoted in January 2023, but have not received due salaries.
Zonal president reaffirmed that government’s failure to address the issue at the earliest would compel the association to go on a mass casual leave.
ANEFWA Zonal Dimapur member, S Ahoto Aye, stated that many of the members were facing financial problems due to non-payment of salary.
Asserting that demanding overdue pay was a fundamental right, the protesting members sought urgent intervention of the chief minister to address the issue.
In Mokokchung, the members of Nagaland Electricity Field Workers Association also staged protest in front of the electrical Executive Engineer office premise by wearing black arm bands on Wednesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest event at NEFWA treasurer’s residence, Salangtem ward, the acting president of NFWA Mokokchung Zonal, Alemkokba stated that the phase-I stir would continue till September 1, 2023. The acting general secretary of NEFWA, B Talimoa informed that the functioning of the department would, however, remain normal.
Alemkokba said that NEFWA Mokokchung Zonal was prepared to follow the directives of ANEFWA, till the demands were met by the state government.