Technician Part of ISRO's Chandrayaan 3 Mission Now Runs Idli Stall Allegedly After Not Receiving Salary For 18 Months: Report
In August this year, Chandrayaan-3 performed a soft landing on the surface of the Moon's South Pole, making India the first country to do so. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the ISRO scientists and even addressed the Chandryaan mission launchpad personnel at the moment.
Ranchi, September 19: A technician at HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited) who worked on the ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 launchpad, has reportedly been selling idlis at a roadside booth in Ranchi to make ends meet. Deepak Kumar Uprariya owns an idli stand in Ranchi's Dhurwa neighbourhood, directly across from the Old Legislative Assembly, according to a recent report by the BBC. He opened his roadside booth when HEC, a Government of India Company (CPSU) that built the folding platform and sliding door for Chandrayaan-3, failed to pay him wages for 18 months.
In August this year, Chandrayaan-3 performed a soft landing on the surface of the Moon's South Pole, making India the first country to do so. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the ISRO scientists and even addressed the Chandryaan mission launchpad personnel at the moment. Chandrayaan 3 Mission Success: India Has Earned Its Place in Global Space Powers Club, Say Experts.
In the background, HEC employees in Ranchi were protesting their 18-month wage arrears. According to the BBC, some 2,800 HEC employees allege they have not received their pay for the previous 18 months. Uprariya is one among them. Uprariya told the outlet that he has been selling idlis to make ends meet for the past few days. He has been co-managing his shop and office duties. In the morning, the technician sells idlis and then goes to the workplace in the afternoon. He sells idlis again in the evening before returning home.
First, I used a credit card to manage my house. I received a loan of Rs. 2 lakh. I was deemed ineligible. After that, I started running the house by taking money from relatives. So far, I've borrowed four lakh rupees. People have stopped lending to me since I have not repaid the money to anyone. I then mortgaged my wife's jewellery and ran the house for a few days, Uprariya explained his condition. 'Jai Hind': Indians Beam With Pride as India Successfully Launches Chandrayaan 3 Mission Into Space, Congratulate ISRO.
My wife cooks delicious idlis. I sell them every day and make between 300 and 400 rupees. I make 50-100 rupees profit. He told the publication, "I'm running my house on this money." Furthermore, the technician stated that he chose to sell idlis when he believed the 'time of starvation' had arrived. According to the BBC, Upraria is from Madhya Pradesh's Harda district. He left his position in a private firm in 2012 to join HEC on a salary of 8,000. He had hoped that his future would be bright being in a government organisation, but things did not work out in his favour.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2023 03:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).