ASDASG begins dharna outside DAC

GANGTOK, 27 Jan: Members of the All Sikkim Departmental Adhoc Staff Group [ASDASG] started an indefinite dharna in front of the District Administration Centre [East] at Sichey today.
The Group, consisting of teaching and non-teaching staff employed on contract basis under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan [SSA] by the Human Resource Development Department, is seeking an extension of their tenure.
Around 15 ASDASG members began the dharna at 3:30 PM today after getting verbal permission from the Superintendent of Police [East] on 25 January. It was informed that around 40 more members would be joining the protest later while members from other districts would join from Saturday onwards.
The ASDASG members have decided to continue their dharna with banners and placards until their demands are fulfilled. It may be mentioned here that the HRDD, in a press release issued on 25 Jan, had dismissed the group’s allegations by stating that the adhoc employees were “fully aware” that their term of appointment was only for one academic year [2011] and that there was no mention of an extension in their appointment orders.
On the other hand, the group reiterated today that ASDASG is not against the government or the Chief Minister but is not satisfied with HRDD. ASDASG has also constituted a Negotiation Group to communicate with the department and the government regarding its demands.