Chakrabarti at the meeting with the casual workers. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Siliguri, July 1: Bengal home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti today hinted that the state government would take a positive decision by July 8 on the demand of regularisation raised by the 8,000-odd casual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.

Chakrabarti met an eight-member delegation of the Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan – the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-affiliated association of the employees — at the circuit house here today.

“After serving for 15-20 years as casual workers, they have suddenly raised the demand of permanency. However, the state government will definitely consider their demand, but right now, it is not possible for me to give any assurance. I have asked them to wait till July 8 and expect from the government some important message that will be sent through the caretaker administrator of the council,” Chakrabarti said.

Yesterday, the caretaker-administrator of the DGHC, B.L. Meena, had issued an order, which said that since the last six-month contract of the workers had expired on June 20, 2008, they would continue to serve in their respective status until a new agreement is enforced.

The new agreement, drafted by the council in consultation with the Sangathan, says the workers will not be under time-bound contracts until the process of regularisation is completed.

Yesterday’s order prompted the Sangathan to withdraw its fast-unto-death, launched on Saturday, and seek an appointment with Chakrabarti for further assurance.

A source said the state government is seriously contemplating the demand and the employees, serving in different grades, might be made permanent in phases. “It is not possible to make all of them permanent overnight as factors like financial liability need to be considered. But the government must have something in store which is likely to be finalised and forwarded to the workers in the next seven days,” he added.

The Sangathan leaders appeared satisfied. “He told us to wait till July 8 to hear what the state government is planning to do about our demand,” Machendra Subba, the Sangathan president said.

On other issues, the home secretary said if the Morcha resumes its indefinite bandh on July 5, additional forces would be deployed in the region. “We have assessed that 10-12 companies of CPMF (central paramilitary force) are necessary for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts,” he said before leaving Siliguri.

In Calcutta, Chakrabarti said the state government is expecting a communiqué from the Morcha after its central committee meeting on July 3. “We think a decision will be taken by the Morcha leaders on whether to go ahead with the shutdown or not and also whether they will agree to another round of talks with the state government.”