Assam: NIT Silchar temporary employees resume indefinite hunger strike over job regularisation demand

Temporary employees of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar have resumed an indefinite hunger strike demanding regularisation of their jobs from August 27. Six employees are currently sitting on a hunger strike, while other members of the NIT Workers Union are staging a sit-in in support of the protesters.

The employees had earlier launched a protest over the same demand from August 10. During the agitation, Barak Valley MLA Kishor Nath held discussions with the NIT Dean and Director on August 13, reportedly following the Chief Minister’s direction. The protesters said they were assured that a positive resolution to the issue would be reached by August 24.

Based on the assurance, the workers temporarily withdrew their agitation. However, with no resolution reached within the stipulated time, they resumed their protest and began the indefinite hunger strike on August 27.

The protesters alleged that the NIT authorities have been delaying the process of regularising their services for a long time. They claimed that four consecutive Gauhati High Court judgments have been delivered in their favour, but the orders have still not been implemented.

Union leaders alleged that despite repeated assurances from the authorities, no effective steps have been taken to resolve the matter. They said the agitation would continue until their demand for regularisation is fulfilled and the court judgments are implemented.

The NIT Workers’ Union has warned that if a permanent solution is not reached by August 30, the agitation could be intensified. The union also threatened to launch a larger mass movement, if necessary, with the participation of family members of the employees.

The protesters have made it clear that they will continue their agitation until their jobs are regularised and the court orders are implemented.