New Delhi:(28/01/2019) Military Engineer Services (MES) Builder Association of India (BAI) representing more than 7500 Members who render services and execute Civil Construction Works to the ARMED FORCES once again raised the issue of pending dues.
The BAI has cautioned that if contractors’ dues are not paid soon, then thousands of people, working at various construction sites across India, will be rendered unemployed and defense projects and maintenance works for infrastructure services will be stopped on account of which national security might be at risk.
MES BAI have been facing the problem of Non-Payment of their legitimate dues for the last three years. They have been making constant efforts to draw the attention of the government on this issue. Presently, MES BAI has 73 branches across India. It is the only association which has been recognized by the Ministry of Defense.
President Praveen Mahana speaking at the conference said,
“Members of MES BAI looks after the basic infrastructure requirements of all the three wings of Armed Forces and it even takes care of their maintenance and operation. It not only constructs the buildings for the Armed Forces but also builds runways for them.
MES BA1 contractors supply trusted and trained work-force to the Military Engineer Services to keep operational the basic infrastructure facilities of Armed Forces. The members MES BA1 observed tools down strike on 29th & 30th October 2018.
However, the proposed strike was called off after getting assurance from the Hon’ble Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to release funds before Deepawali Festival, but a paltry amount of Rs. 250 Crore only was released against the total liabilities of (approx.) Rs.1600 Crore by the Ministry of Defense.
Since then no further funds have been released till date. Therefore, the liability is increasing day-by-day and the same has shot up from (approx.) Rs.1600 Crore to Rs. 2000 Crore (approx.) at present”.
The Engineer-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of State for Defense, PMO and Defense Minister have been apprised of the situation. However, the government has not provided any relief till date. The members of Association also had observed tools down strike on 3rd & 4th December, 2018.
