Union of workers at city’s remand homes go on indefinite strike
The Children’s Aid Society Employees’ Union will be going on an indefinite strike from today to agitate against the state government for nonfulfilment of demands for timely salaries, pension and provident fund and lack of infrastructural facilities across eight juvenile observation homes across Mumbai. Two hundred and fifty union workers will be going on a strike.
The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) governs eight juvenile observation homes across Mumbai. On September 21, a letter was sent from the CAS office at Matunga to the Chief Minister's office, Principal Secretary at Mantralaya and to the Women and Children department stating that the demands of the union should be met else they would be going on an indefinite strike. In response to this letter, a letter dated September 6 (a copy is available with the Free Press Journal) was sent to the CAS stating that the union employees have not been given permission to conduct the strike.
According to Rajesh Nichite, the Union Secretary of the Children’s Aid Society Employees, “We are going on an indefinite strike from Monday. We have not received any response so far from the Women and Child Welfare Department and from the Principal Secretary despite repeated letters to them to fulfil our demands. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had himself given directions to the department in March 2016 during the budget session to look into this matter but nothing has been done as yet. If we are covered under the Essential Services, then why are we not given the basic provisions under the Act?”
“We want the government to take over the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). Ninety acres was given to CAS by the government to run eight juvenile homes across Mumbai. However, 25-acre land has been commercially encroached upon. As of date, CAS does not have any standing of its own despite being an autonomous body. The government had given the land on lease to CAS. The lease expired in 1995. Even the managerial positions are held by government employees only. Nearly Rs 2-3 crore bills for food provision for juveniles are outstanding. Water and electricity bills worth Rs 50-60 lakh are outstanding. The government grants only Rs 635 per child for the full year. However, the cost per child is Rs 2,500. CAS has no money to pay. So, why don’t they hand over the institution to the government, if they are not able to give protection to the children and take care of the employees?” said Nichite.
The Children’s Aid Society Employees’ Union is agitating against the state government for non-fulfilment of demands, including getting timely salaries and lack of infrastructural facilities across eight juvenile observation homes across Mumbai. Two hundred and fifty union workers will be going on the strike.