BHU VC SETS UP DEDICATED CELL TO LOOK INTO THE GRIEVANCES OF OUTSOURCED STAFF

BHU VC SETS UP DEDICATED CELL TO LOOK INTO THE GRIEVANCES OF OUTSOURCED STAFF
VARANASI: Banaras Hindu University has set up a dedicated unit to look into the grievances of outsourced staff like non-payment of EPF, delay in payment of wages and other benefits they are otherwise entitled to receive. Brigadier (Retd.) Narinder Singh, who recently joined as advisor has been given the charge of the cell to ensure effective redressal of the issues of the staff hired through various agencies. The university has strength of nearly 1800 outsourced staff deputed in various departments/units across the university discharging different duties. The university had been receiving a number of complaints/ representations regarding delay in payment of wages to outsourced staff, non-deposit of EPF and lapses regarding other benefits like ESI etc. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain took a serious note of the lapses and issued directions for time bound resolution of the problems. “The workforce hired through outsourcing is an important component of the university’s functioning. It’s a reality that several key departments and services are wholly dependent on the contribution of outsourced staff. We MUST address their grievances to expect smooth and effective functioning of the administrative machinery”, said Prof. Jain. He said that the new cell has undertaken a mammoth exercise of looking into all the cases one by one so that no one is left unattended and unheard.

Brigadier (Retd.) Narinder Singh informed that in the past one month over 400 cases of provident fund have been examined. Besides, nearly 600 ESIC forms have been issued to the staff so that they are able to get the benefits available to them, he added. “We are trying to reach out to each and every outsourced staff to ensure they are receiving their due”, said Mr. Singh. He urged all the outsourced staff to come up with issues if any, so that required steps may be taken.

The cell operating from the new Administrative Building of the central registry has been looking into the records pertaining to outsourced staff to keep a check on lapses at the end of the outsourcing agency or at the administrative level if any.