CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, May 4: It’s been around five years since the employees of Hotel Ashok have been waiting to get their dues, but it seems like neither the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the Jharkhand government nor the Bihar government has taken any decision regarding this yet.
The employees of Hotel Ashok have been employed by ITDC for 34 years but they have not received their salaries for the last five years.
According to them, they have been getting assurances from the corporation for the last five years but nothing has been done yet.
The reason behind the delay is still unknown as the three concerned authorities are just putting the blame on one another instead of dealing with the issue.
Amitabh Kaushal, Secretary of the Department of Home, Jail and Disaster Management has said that the majority of stakes of the hotel are with ITDC and Bihar government and the stakes have not yet been distributed equally.
He added that the Jharkhand government currently holds minor stakes in the hotel. Therefore it cannot take any decision regarding the payment of salaries unless it gets the allotted shares.
Around 15 employees had taken VRS one and a half years ago and they are yet to get their due salary, PF and gratuity.
Earlier, two employees had even committed suicide because they were not paid their salaries after years of working.
Around 19 employees of the hotel have decided to immolate themselves in front of the hotel on May 7.
They have informed the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Bihar, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and other departmental officials.
As the employees of the hotel are ready to take such drastic steps, neither the Bihar government nor the Jharkhand government is taking any initiative regarding the payment of salary.
