TNR News Network
Dharamshala— The Himachal Pradesh Technical Assistant Association has strongly opposed the state government’s decision to shift over 400 regular technical assistants posted in district councils to contractual positions. The association has warned of statewide protests if the decision is not revoked.
According to Sanjana Verma, State President of the Technical Assistant Association, the Rural Development Department has issued directives requiring technical assistants, along with MGNREGA-appointed Gram Rozgar Sevaks, computer operators, and junior accountants, to sign a standardized contract agreement. This contract includes a 30-point affidavit declaring their employment as temporary, project-specific, and non-civil service, disqualifying them from benefits such as regularization, pension, and GPF.
In a Google Meet attended by technical assistants from across districts, the association condemned the move as unjust and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Verma stated that the directive undermines the rights to salary and service security and converts regular employment into an uncertain contractual arrangement, which is neither legally nor ethically acceptable.
Sanjana Verma emphasized that many of these employees have been serving since 2009, initially as contingent or daily wage workers, and later transitioned to regular pay structures. “Forcing them into contracts now is a betrayal of their service,” she said.
Sanjoo Devi, another senior member of the association, highlighted that while 1205 posts were created in the district council’s technical wing, only 600 assistants who joined before 2008 were absorbed. The remaining 400, who joined post-2008, continue to receive salaries from the MGNREGA material component despite performing identical duties.
“These assistants are not limited to MGNREGA,” Devi said. “They handle tasks under MLA and MP funds, CM and PM housing schemes, the 15th Finance Commission, disaster relief, and even election duties. Yet, they are denied GPF and pension benefits.”
The association demands:
- Recognition of all regular-pay technical assistants as permanent employees.
- Equal salary and service security for the 400 assistants transferred from Panchayat Samitis.
- Salary disbursement through the district council instead of MGNREGA.
- Immediate cessation of pressure to sign contractual agreements.
- Equal rights and non-discriminatory treatment at the workplace.
The association also pointed out that despite the creation of 1081 sanctioned posts in the 2019 notification, 400 assistants remain excluded from district council benefits. They urged the government to initiate transparent dialogue between the department and the association to resolve the issue.
In a message to the Chief Minister, the association appealed for intervention, citing the government’s employee-friendly stance. They warned that failure to address the issue could lead to phased protests across the state.
