Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat
Dozens of temporary workers employed under the government’s rural drinking water initiative staged a protest on Thursday in Balurghat, accusing authorities of failing to pay their wages for the past six months.The demonstrators, who work under the Jal Jeevan Mission project in West Bengal’s Dakshin Dinajpur district, gathered in front of the South Dinajpur Zilla Parishad gate in the afternoon, demanding the immediate release of their pending salaries.
According to the protesters, they had previously submitted written appeals to several authorities — including the District Magistrate’s office and the Zila Parishad— seeking payment of their dues. Despite repeated requests, they said, the issue remained unresolved.In a show of frustration, the workers also locked the office of the agency under which they are employed, escalating their protest in an effort to draw attention to their demands.
Police from the Balurghat police station arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the demonstration. Officers intervened to calm the situation, and the protest eventually subsided without further incident.But the workers warned that their agitation could intensify if the overdue payments are not cleared soon. Several protesters said they were prepared to launch a larger movement in the coming days if authorities fail to address their grievances.
For many of the workers involved, the delayed wages have created significant financial strain, underscoring ongoing challenges faced by contractual staff employed in public infrastructure projects.
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