Darjeeling, Jan. 27: The Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan has decided to stop all DGHC tenders for development work from being processed from February 7, a move the union of casual workers hopes will force the government to grant permanent job status soon to its members.

The Sangathan is a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha affiliate and its decision is likely to halt all new projects, expected to be carried out this year.

Deepak Sharma, spokesperson for JAKS, told The Telegraph: “The state government had assured us that the process of regularisation (of jobs) will start from November 17, 2009. However, till date, we have heard nothing. Unless our members are regularised, we will stop all tender work from February 7 onwards.”

Even though the state government had given a written assurance to the casual workers that regularisation of the sanctioned posts (numbering around 3,200) would start from November 17, home secretary Ardhendhu Sen in his capacity as additional chief secretary later said the government could not promise any specific time frame.

B.L.. Meena, the administrator of the DGHC, said stalling the tender process would halt all development work in the hills.

As immediate effect, projects worth Rs 36 crore will be affected. The DGHC has in recent times received Rs 26 crore under the Special Central Assistance Fund, while the state government is likely to pool in another Rs 10 crore as Matching Grant soon. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg of funds the DGHC gets.

“After Cyclone Aila, we had got Rs 40 crore for relief of which we have spent Rs 37 crore. Since we had to undertake many emergency work, there is a liability of another Rs 30 crore,” said Meena.

“Liabilities” are construction works that is done with funds other than the sanctioned Rs 40 crore. The “liabilities” have to be cleared by the state and the DGHC is yet to get the money.

The council also receives around Rs 400 crore annually under the planned budget. A rough estimation of the break up of the funds received under the planned budget includes Rs 100 crore for 100 days’ work, Rs 150 crore for mid-day meal and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Rs 100 crore for rural development and another Rs 100 crore for construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. Tenders have to be floated for some of the projects under the planned budget.

If JAKS goes ahead with its movement, none of the tenders for the schemes mentioned will be allowed to be floated.

Meena said the process of regularisation of the DGHC workers was taking time as it has to be approved by the state government followed by a concurrence from the finance department.

According to the administrator, the DGHC shells out almost Rs 20 crore each month for disbursement of salaries.

“We need around Rs 3 crore to pay the 6,000 odd casual workers. The council needs another Rs 17 crore per month to pay its 5,000-odd permanent staff. If the 6,000 casual workers of the council are regularised, the council will need Rs 40 crore per month for salaries and this is why we need the approval from the state for their regularisation,” added Meena.