Itanagar: The Itanagar Traffic Wardens (ITWs) have threatened to go for an indefinite hunger strike from September if the state government turns a deaf ear to their demands.
The ITWs have been demanding the regularisation of their job under the Home department and their absorption in the city’s traffic cell.
The traffic wardens have also launched an indefinite dharna at Tennis Court here since Monday.
Speaking to NewsFy on the second day of the dharna, Lomra Tapa, a fourth-batch ITW said the state government has been repeatedly ignoring their genuine demands.
“There has been no response yet despite us submitting repeated representations and the government giving us assurances. So if this continues we will sit on a hunger strike from next month,” Tapa said.
Tapa said though the ITWs have been wholeheartedly serving the people of Itanagar since 2011, they have been deprived of their basic rights and have always received a step-motherly treatment.
“Despite false assurances, we have been serving the people, but all in vain. During this course of time, some of our fellow wardens have been terminated for mere reasons while the salaries of several have been deducted. As there is no option left, we have decided to sit on the indefinite dharna which will be followed by a hunger strike soon,” he said.
Tapa said there are 158 ITWs waiting to hear a positive response from the home department for their job security and a better future for their families.
According to the ITW, the demand for their regularization is a continuation of a Cabinet note issued by the then principal secretary (home) on March 13, 2015, and the written assurance given by the then chief secretary on 22 January, 2017.
Home Minister Bamang Felix has assured a solution on the matter soon.
