PDOs launch indefinite pen down strike

About 100 employees of rural development and panchayat raj department including PDOs and secretaries converged in front of Zilla Panchayat here. They staged a day-long protest demonstration under the banner of Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Government Employees Association.

General secretary Subramanya Sharma told Deccan Herald the strike is in protest against the failure of the government in checking the recurrence of bad incidents involving PDOs and secretaries. When Mandakini a PDO committed suicide due to the harassment by elected representatives to tow their line, the association had staged a stir.

The RDPR minister Jagadish Shettar had promised to take stringent measures, but in vain. Recently Vijaykumar Suryavamshi of Byalahalli GP in Bidar district took the extreme step by killing self.Subramanya Sharma said in Mysore district alone 23 PDOs have resigned in the month of October- November and the numbers will increase in the days to come, thanks to the elected representatives who give two hoots to law.

The agitators led by their president Nagegowda, vice presidents Purushotham,  Shivayogi submitted a memorandum to ZP deputy secretary P A Gopal who is also honorary president of the association.