CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, Dec 14: Many HEC officers, employees and workers took out a bike rally on Wednesday in Ranchi under the banner ‘Save HEC Save Nation’. The rally started from HEC Headquarters in Dhurwa covering Sharma Market, Dhurwa Bus Stand, JP Market Sector 3, Check Post in Sector 2 and ended at Headquarters.
Talking to the Lagatar correspondent, one of the managing officers of HEC Shashi Kumar said that the condition has been the same for the last 14 months and there are no signs as of now of improvement as far as getting salaries is concerned.
“We have been protesting outside the headquarters for the last one year and yet nothing has improved. We have not received our salaries since November 2021 and since then we are living in debt. We have taken loans from so many people that we are unable to repay them. I have stopped sending my son to school as I have no money for the fees,” he said.
Company secretary of HEC Abhay Kumar Kanth said that it is a very serious issue that should not be ignored by the management as HEC has been a very integral part of the country’s development history.
“HEC has many times provided Jharkhand a moment to make the country proud, whether it is Chandrayaan mission or important parts of INS Vikrant and INS Arihant. The company has also made important contributions to the defence sector. Cities such as Durgapur, Bokaro and Bhilai are a product of HEC. If such a giant company is going through such a phase for the last few years, it is really a big matter of concern which should not be avoided by the centre,” he said.
He added the Prime Minister’s initiatives such as ‘vocal for local’ and ‘Make in India’ can really help in reviving the company’s fate in the future.
Notably, HEC has more than 3,000 employees including office bearers and workers who are yet to receive their salaries.