Kathmandu. Dinesh Thapa, a resident of Khotehang Rural Municipality-8 in Khotang district, has demanded an impartial investigation and justice for not being paid for working in an administrative building under construction in Molung Rural Municipality of Okhaldhunga.
Organizing a press conference at Sambad Dabali on Thursday, Khotehang Rural Municipality Vice-Chairman Rupesh Rai accused the rural municipality of cheating workers of Rs 110 million in a contract. According to Thapa, although an average of 15 workers were mobilized for the construction work from December 1, 2021 to October 1, 2081, only Rs 7 million has been received so far.
Thapa has complained that Rupesh Rai and Saroj Rai, proprietors of BKSK Construction and Suppliers Pvt Ltd, have been adamant on not paying the dues of the dues even though they have repeatedly promised to pay the dues.
The victims have accused Rupesh Rai, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, of delaying, threatening and exploiting workers to pay the salary even though he had signed an agreement with another proprietor Saroj to complete the work. He said that he had tried to file an application for judicial settlement in the rural municipality but it was not registered and he was on the verge of self-immolation in course of the dispute.
“I tried to immolate myself by pouring petrol on me after openly threatening me instead of giving my hard-earned money to the workers, but my relatives immediately saved me.” Thapa claimed that a complaint was filed against Saroj Rai and Rupesh Rai at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Home Ministry directed Khotang to resolve the issue.
Even though 1 percent of the total income was deducted for the social security fund, they did not pay the bill, did not provide the official measurement, did not manage the residence, violated the Labor Act and issued the documents to the workers themselves without insurance for the accident, etc. have proved their wrong attitude. Rupesh and Saroj have also accused Bibash Construction and Suppliers Pvt Ltd of mischief in the middle by forcing them to tender after their company became incompetent.
Demanding justice, he said that he has filed an application with various bodies including the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Labour Office and others. He complained that the problem has not been resolved even though there was a verbal commitment to take initiative to get the remuneration from the discussion held at the District Administration Office, Khotang. He said that he has also applied to the National Information Commission as he has only given a recommendation without providing the official measurement of the work from the Molung Rural Municipality. Thapa has also demanded the authorities concerned to provide his remuneration for his work, to conduct an impartial investigation against the parties involved in the incident and to investigate the possible abuse of office of a person holding public office. Victim Thapa has threatened to go on a hunger strike in front of the District Administration Office in Khotang after Tihar if their demands are not addressed immediately. Birjan Bishwakarma, spokesperson of the National Genji Citizen Campaign, has drawn the attention of the concerned side to provide the wages of the workers immediately. When contacted, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Khotang, Mahesh Kumar Gurung, said that they have received a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs and they have already sent the letter as it is related to Okhaldhunga district.
“We have talked to CDO Saab and Sarojji of Okhaldhunga to resolve the issue after Tihar,” said CDO Gurung.
When asked about the victim’s lack of justice, Gurung said, “If the victim files a complaint against Rupesh Rai with evidence, we will bring it under the ambit of law, but there is no complaint so far and it is appropriate to make the same allegation.” When asked about the incident, Saroj Rai, the proprietor of BKSK Construction and Suppliers Pvt. Ltd., said that all the amount has been paid as per the agreement with Dinesh Thapa. “Dinesh is giving unnecessary torture even after paying all the money we have to pay, I have told him, brother, we will fight the case there for now, but he does not agree.” “
When we tried to contact Rupesh Rai, another proprietor and vice-chairperson of Khotehang Rural Municipality, he could not get a call.
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