CIC operators threaten indefinite 'switch off'

Aizawl, May 28 (UNI) Community Information Centre (CIC) operators here across the state, working under Mizoram government, have threatened to 'switch off' their computer systems from June 1 if the government fails to pay their salaries for March and April.

CIC operators alleged that the state government had withheld their salaries which the Centre had already sanctioned to the Mizoram Industries department during March last year.

The indefinite strike will affect all the 52 CICs in Mizoram.

The CIC operators, who had come to the state capital a few days back for a workshop organised by the industries department's IT wing on the CIC, vowed not to go back to work without concrete assurances from the government.

The CIC operators, under the banner of Mizoram IT Promoters' Association, further alleged diversion of Rs 20 lakh under the citizen centric services, the largest project of CIC, which the Centre had sanctioned on June 3, 2003.

Out of the Rs 20 lakh, Rs 9 lakh had been spent for purposes other than the CICs while the rest 10.58 lakh went missing, they alleged.

The operators also urged the government to facilitate post regularisation and post creations for them.

UNI SNR SP SS1122