HIV-AIDS workers demand 7-month withheld salaries

Dimapur, July 8 : Joining a slew of workers across the state that hasn’t been paid their due by the Nagaland government, workers of HIV-AIDS intervention programs in Nagaland have also announced more agitations protesting the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) failing to pay them for seven months. A press release was issued through the media by the Forum of Employees of HIV/AIDS Programs working for targeted interventions in the state. The organization had announced the first phase of agitations, which started from July 1, as a result of “non-response” from the NSACS, it was informed. More are on the way, the forum assured. A representation addressed to the chairman of the NSACS was submitted on June 21 requesting salary release before June 30. The demand was by 495 employees from eleven districts where targeted intervention projects under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) are being implemented. “However the forum was saddened when the concern authority or any NSACS officials did not even have the courtesy to respond. Therefore, the forum has called for its first phase of agitation by wearing black ribbons to signify that the HIV/AIDS program in the state is ‘death’. The employees have started wearing the black ribbon since 1st July and will continue to wear it for the next ten days,” the forum stated. Following the expiry of ten days of wearing the black ribbon, the forum will launch a second phase of agitation, the workers assured. It was informed that the employees had not been paid their salaries since December 2015 and till date (June 2016), covering a period of seven months. “The non-release of funds has led to untold misery of the employees, whereby they are left unpaid and are made to beg and borrow to sustain their livelihood. This has greatly decreased the commitment level of the TI employees (staffs and PEs). Some of the most efficient and trained staffs have also resigned from the office.” The forum also questioned the leadership of the NSACS/NACO. They have sought public clarifications in this regard.