Agartala, 16th April 2026: A visually impaired employee has alleged prolonged salary non-payment, intimidation, and administrative negligence while working under an outsourced arrangement in the state.
Karna Banerjee, a blind individual with no immediate family support, has claimed that he has been deprived of his salary for the past two to three months despite being employed at the Narsingarh-based Blind School under the Social Welfare and Social Education Department through a private outsourcing agency.
According to him, he was appointed about a year ago through a placement facilitated by a private firm, M/s ARK Informatics Private Limited, and initially received a monthly salary of ₹9,500, which helped him sustain his livelihood. However, he alleges that payments have been irregular for the last few months, leaving him in severe financial distress.
Banerjee further stated that when he approached the department, officials informed him that funds had already been released to the concerned agency. However, he claims that the agency has not disbursed his salary.
He also alleged that after raising the issue, a staff member from the agency, identified as Tamal Chakraborty, threatened him over the phone, questioning his attempts to contact the department and warning him that he would not receive his salary for several months.
While other employees under the same agency reportedly received their salaries on the 13th of the current month, Banerjee says he has continued to be excluded.
Unable to resolve the issue, he has again approached the Social Welfare and Social Education Department and submitted a fresh complaint, later sharing his ordeal with the media. He has also appealed to the concerned minister for intervention, stating that he is struggling even to afford basic meals.
The case has once again raised concerns over outsourcing practices in various government departments, with allegations that multiple private agencies are exploiting workers while oversight mechanisms remain weak. Critics argue that despite repeated complaints, effective action is often lacking, leaving vulnerable employees without timely justice.
