Mounting frustration over prolonged non-payment of salaries prompted NGO workers engaged in Anganwadi-related projects under Tripura’s Social Welfare and Social Education Department to submit a deputation to the department’s Director on Wednesday, seeking immediate intervention.
The workers alleged that they have not received their salaries for nearly nine months despite continuing to discharge their assigned responsibilities. They said the prolonged delay has caused severe financial hardship for them and their families.
During the deputation, the workers raised two key issues — clearance of pending salaries and uncertainty surrounding their job security. According to them, they were recruited through NGOs in 2024 to assist in various Anganwadi-related services, but payment irregularities began within months of their engagement.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the deputation, one of the workers said the prolonged salary backlog had made it increasingly difficult for employees to meet basic household expenses.
“We have families to support, children to educate and daily expenses to meet. Without salaries for nine months, survival has become extremely difficult,” the worker said.
Apart from the pending wages, the workers expressed concern over what they described as the introduction of new educational qualification requirements. They alleged that the revised criteria could result in several existing workers being excluded despite having served in the system for a considerable period.
The protesters maintained that if new eligibility requirements are to be implemented, the authorities should issue clear guidelines and communicate decisions regarding the future of existing employees instead of abruptly discontinuing their services.
The workers said they are currently facing a double challenge — months of unpaid wages on one hand and uncertainty over continued employment on the other. They appealed to the Social Welfare and Social Education Directorate to consider their situation sympathetically and take urgent steps to resolve both issues.
According to the protesters, 27 workers and their families have been affected by the situation. They sought clarity on when their outstanding salaries would be released and whether their services would continue under the existing arrangement.
The workers also called for accountability over the prolonged delay in payment and sought appropriate action to ensure that such salary backlogs do not recur.
For now, the affected employees are awaiting a response from the authorities regarding both their pending wages and employment status.
