Dimapur, June 24 (MExN): Students of Sao Chang College of Tuensang have appealed to the Minister for Higher Education, Nagaland, to regularize the jobs of their contract bus drivers who have been serving for many years. Sao Chang College Students’ Union (SCCSU) says that many of the institution’s bus drivers have been serving for 15 to 20 years but still drawing a monthly salary of Rs. 4,000. That is far from sufficient to meet their family and children’s needs and welfare in the face of drastic increase in the cost of living, the union said in a letter received here today.
“Many of the college bus drivers are serving for more than 15 years and some even 20 years as fixed pay/ad-hoc employees, drawing a salary of Rs.4000/- per month. In the present economic state of high inflation and rising cost of living, one can understand the difficulties being faced by them to meet their basic daily needs, children’s education, medical care, etc with such meager salary,” the letter to the minister stated. The SCCSU believes their circumstance is a ‘cross injustice’ considering their nature of work and seniority as government servants.
“Moreover, they can’t even do any off-time work to add more incomes, as they have to go to college everyday like students/teachers.” Currently, the college has four ad-hoc drivers and one regularized bus driver. “As a matter of fact, bus drivers are the only employees who have been on ad-hoc basis for a very long period and are still not regularized, comparing to other staffs in the same college,” the students said.
“Therefore, the SCCSU would like to request your esteem authority to kindly take up this matter promptly and work out the best possibilities for the regularization of the concerned aggrieved staffs at the earliest.” The letter was appended by general secretary of the union Nato Y Chang.
