Khadi Village Industries staff agitate

Aizawl, Jun 19 : Workers under the Mizoram Khadi and Village Industries Board agitated over their superiors and decided to wear black badges from today to show their displeasure across the state.

According to the staff welfare association leaders, the board has a liability of over Rs 3 crores towards payment of muster roll pay and the board authorities have plans to use money towards these payments for setting up new offices in Champhai and Lawngtlai districts.

''We had informed Chief Minister Zoramthanga of our difficulties and as a result of which he had kindly allocated more funds for our plan funds'', the members said adding ''however, we have learned that our higher ups are planning to use the funds for setting new offices in two districts instead of using it for payment of salaries''.

The welfare association is also unhappy over the lack of action about their pensions.

The government had agreed to pay pensions to the the workers last October but no action towards achieving this has been initiated by the board authorities.

Welfare association leaders said the board has so much financial difficulties that it has been five years since the last muster roll was employed despite lack of staff strength.

UNI