SC/ST union accuses ONGC
ONGC management stands accused of meddling in the elections of an association for more than 7000 disadvantaged employees.
Elections at the 22 branches of the All India SC/ST (Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe) Employees' Welfare Association (AISCSTEWA) began on October 13 (2023) in Dehradun and continue until November 28 (2023). After this, crucial Central Working Committee (CWC) elections are scheduled.
These are the first elections since 2018, but a source questions the integrity of the process. "Management is trying to weed out people who point out irregularities and are placing their 'yes-men' in all associations, including AISCSTEWA," he alleges.
Our source adds that five aspiring leaders from the AISCSTEWA Baroda branch were suspended by the association president JJ Parmar, who has since retired: Yogesh Vasava, Rajesh Gade, Navalsinh Parmar, Shantilal Vankar and Suresh Vasava. They petitioned the Vadodara civil court in the last week of September 2023 for an interim stay order against the move preventing them from contesting the AISCSTEWA elections.
They allege the retired president nominated another man as his successor. "There is indirect manipulation through returning officers who are people from management," alleges a source in Jorhat, who has approached the district court to complain.
"I have demanded a fresh election because they shortened the nomination period to keep away those who work on a 14-day on-off duty rotation." One employee claims ONGC management wants "its people" in the AISCSTEWA apex body CWC.
"One time when a leader threatened to go on a hunger strike against long-term postings (officers over-staying in plum locations without a transfer), management removed him," he claims. By June 30 (2023), of the 26,517 regular ONGC employees, there were 7097 disadvantaged employees at 22 work centres.
Of these, 4110 belong to scheduled castes, and 2987 belong to scheduled tribes.