in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), hundreds of BTC fixed pay employees gathered in front of the BTC Secretariat in Kokrajhar on Saturday.
Their demands focused on two critical issues: regularization of their jobs and immediate release of long-pending salaries.
The protest highlighted growing discontent among employees hired under fixed pay systems, who feel excluded from the benefits enjoyed by regular government staff.
Long Wait for Regularization
Speaking to reporters, several BTC fixed pay employees said they have been working in various departments for years without formal appointments.
“We are performing the same duties as regular staff but earn less and have no job security,” said Ranjita Basumatary, a health department employee.
The protesters accused the BTC administration of failing to keep earlier promises regarding regularization.
“During elections, we were assured our jobs would be regularized. But years have passed, and nothing has changed,” said Monoj Brahma, who has been serving in the education department for nearly eight years.
Pending Salaries Aggravate Crisis
Apart from regularization, the issue of pending salaries has added fuel to the fire.
Many employees said they haven’t received salaries for the past four to five months.
“How are we supposed to survive without salaries for so long? We have families, children’s education fees, and other expenses,” questioned Bimal Narzary, a protester from the PWD department.
BTC Administration Responds
Reacting to the protest, BTC officials acknowledged the challenges faced by fixed pay employees.
BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro issued a statement promising to look into the matter.
“We understand the grievances of our fixed pay employees. We have already initiated a review of their service conditions and will shortly convene meetings with concerned departments,” Boro stated.
However, no specific timeline for regularization or payment of pending salaries was announced.
Political Reactions
Political parties in the region quickly picked up the issue.
The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) criticized the BTC administration for neglecting fixed pay employees.
“Thousands of employees are being exploited in the name of fixed pay. This is modern-day slavery,” said BPF leader Hagrama Mohilary.
Meanwhile, United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) leaders defended the BTC government, citing financial constraints and the need for approval from the Assam government for any mass regularizations.
A Broader Employment Concern
The protest also sheds light on a broader problem in Assam’s public sector employment structure.
Fixed pay systems were introduced to manage budgetary limitations but have led to widespread discontent among workers.
Labour rights activists warn that such protests could increase across Assam if the government does not address the disparities between fixed pay and regular employees.
For background on BTC administration policies, visit the official BTC website.
Call for Urgent Resolution
The protesting BTC fixed pay employees vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met.
“We won’t leave until our voices are heard,” declared Ranjita Basumatary, as the crowd chanted slogans demanding justice.
Stakeholders hope that dialogue between employees and the BTC administration will yield a peaceful solution before the situation escalates further.
