Assam's UNESCO heritage sites suffer as contractual staff go unpaid for months

Dozens of contractual employees working across Assam’s heritage monuments, including the renowned Charaideo Moidams — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — have not received their salaries since November 2024.

These workers, employed through private contractors by the Directorate of Archaeology, are responsible for maintaining 167 protected monuments in the state.

As reported by PTI, around 180 workers, including monument attendants, junior research assistants, archaeologists, housekeeping, and security staff, have been affected by the delay. The root cause appears to be long-pending payments — over ₹2 crore — owed by the Assam government to two private contractors, CIIMS and Sankar Pujari.

Officials acknowledged that the state finance department has yet to provide the necessary ceiling approval to release sanctioned funds. One official told PTI that while the directorate had cleared and forwarded the bills in time, the absence of financial clearance has caused the deadlock.

With limited permanent staff — just 25 for all 167 monuments — these contractual employees are the backbone of site upkeep.

Now, many have stopped reporting for work, citing financial hardship. One junior research assistant shared that he had only received partial payments for September and November 2024. A sweeper, meanwhile, said he has turned to daily wage work to feed his family.

The maintenance crisis has also left heritage sites vulnerable.

According to employees, there is currently no security presence at the Charaideo Moidams, despite its global recognition. Officials noted that routine work like lawn upkeep and restroom cleaning has come to a halt due to staff shortages.

While the Directorate has earned accolades for its role in getting the Moidams listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — including a 'Karmashree' award and a study tour to Egypt — its heritage infrastructure now faces neglect.

Archaeology Director Deepi Rekha Kouli confirmed the delay in salary disbursement and said efforts are underway to resolve the issue. However, no specific timeline for payments has been provided.

As Assam enters the monsoon season, the absence of regular maintenance could further deteriorate conditions at these historic sites.