By TC News Desk
Agartala, 17th April 2025: Angry workers staged a road blockade at the entrance of New Bhagirath Colony on the Gandacherra-Ambassa road early this morning demanding immediate payment of their long-pending wages. The protestors expressed their frustration alleging that they have not been paid for a prolonged period despite repeated appeals to the authorities.
The blockade caused widespread disruption in the Gandacherra subdivisional market as tribal families who had brought vegetables from remote areas along with government employees, students and passengers found themselves stranded. The movement of goods and people came to an abrupt halt, resulting in significant hardship for the local population. “We left home in the early hours with our produce, only to be stuck here for hours. It’s frustrating and a huge financial loss for us,” said a tribal farmer, visibly upset by the situation.
The workers specifically pointed fingers at the administration, claiming that they have been deprived of wages for their work under the MGNREGA scheme for an extended period. “Despite notifying the Panchayat several times, no action has been taken to address our grievances. We had no choice but to block the road to make our voices heard,” explained one of the protestors.
Acknowledging the severity of the crisis, senior officials from the Panchayat rushed to the site to engage with the demonstrators. After prolonged discussions, the officials assured the workers that their dues would be cleared promptly. “We understand the plight of the workers and are committed to resolving the issue at the earliest,” stated a Panchayat representative.
On the strength of these assurances, the protestors decided to call off the blockade, allowing normalcy to return to the area. However, the workers issued a stern warning to the authorities. “If this promise is not fulfilled, we will be forced to escalate our movement. This is just the beginning,” declared a protest leader, indicating the potential for larger demonstrations in the future.
