FCI employees in Punjab seek Rs 50-lakh cover, health equipment; threaten protest

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 7

Hundreds of employees of Food Corporation of India (FCI) posted across Punjab have demanded required equipment and Rs 50 lakh insurance cover to protect themselves from coronavirus during the present loading of rice and wheat in trains.

They have announced to start protest in coming days if authorities failed to look into their demands.

“Like employees of police and health departments, FCI employees are also at the risk of getting infected because we have been coming into the contact of hundreds of labourers and other persons daily during the loading of grains in trains across the state. But till date neither we have received required gloves, sanitisers and other equipment to protect ourselves,” said Rajinderpal Singh Bhallu, Punjab state president of Bhartiya Khadiya Nigam Karmchari Sangh at Sangrur on Tuesday.

Bhallu also alleged that despite repeated requests and letters to senior authorities of FCI, they have not received any response as yet.

“Like other employees, we should also have required equipment and Rs 50 lakh insurance cover. If authorities failed to take required steps, in coming some days, we would announce our agitation plan. Though we do not want to protest in this hour of crisis, but authorities are compelling us,” said Bhallu.

Lokesh Meena, state secretary, said FCI senior authorities and central government should immediately look into their demands.

“We are working hard, but need protection like other department employees” said Meena.

When contacted, FCI General Manager (Region) Arshdeep Singh Thind, he said he was busy in a meeting.