Contractual Workers at Assam's Archaeological Sites Demand Unpaid Salaries
Unpaid Salaries Affecting Archaeological Site Maintenance
Sivasagar, June 19: Contract workers hired by the Directorate of Archaeology to manage 167 historical sites in Assam, including the UNESCO-recognized 'Moidams' from the Ahom era, have reported that they have not received their salaries for over six months.
Officials acknowledged that there are ongoing issues with salary payments, stating that the government is working to resolve the situation promptly.
Approximately 180 workers from two private contractors have not received their payments due to the Assam government failing to clear over Rs 2 crore in bills owed to the vendors for several years. This delay has significantly impacted the upkeep of these heritage sites, with many workers not showing up for their duties, according to official sources.
These contractual employees play a crucial role in the Directorate of Archaeology, as there are only 25 permanent staff members overseeing the 167 recognized monuments, which is less than 15% of the total workforce needed for these sites.
Several workers from the contractors, CIIMS and Sankar Pujari, reported that they have not received their payments since November 2024.
One junior research assistant, who began working at the Charaideo Moidams in August 2024, shared that he received his first month's salary on time but faced delays in subsequent payments. He noted that he only received half of his September salary in October, with the rest coming in November, and the October salary was not cleared until December.
He mentioned that he received part of his November salary in mid-January, but since then, no further payments have been made. Many employees have not even received their dues for October.
"Most of the staff have stopped coming to work, but I continue to show up in hopes of receiving my dues. We are educated individuals dedicated to preserving our heritage, but without government support, survival becomes challenging," he expressed, highlighting the frustration over unpaid salaries.
Another worker, employed as a sweeper at a significant site, shared his struggles to support his family of four and has resorted to daily wage work in a nearby town.
"It's hard to believe that there is no security at the Charaideo Moidam, the only UNESCO Heritage Site managed by the Archaeology Department. Employees have not been paid since December, leading to their absence from work," another contractual worker stated.
CIIMS employees work as monument attendants, junior research assistants, research assistants, and young archaeologists, earning between Rs 14,000 and Rs 30,000 monthly. Meanwhile, workers from Sankar Pujari handle housekeeping, security, and cleaning tasks, receiving salaries ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000.
A senior official from the Directorate of Archaeology, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the two contractors have not received over Rs 2 crore in payments for several years.
When approached for comments, Archaeology Director Deepi Rekha Kouli acknowledged the salary issues and assured that the government is working to resolve them soon.
"Yes, there have been delays in salary disbursement. However, we are in the process of addressing this, and we hope to release the salaries shortly," she stated, declining to provide further details.
Among the 167 monuments, the Moidams, which are burial mounds from the Ahom Dynasty located in Charaideo district, are particularly notable. They were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July of the previous year.