<p>Lead by Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Workers’ Association, demanding basic facilities like job security, provident fund and hike in salary, gram panchayat workers of Dakshina Kannada district started an indefinite strike against the State government, in front of the Zilla Panchayat building, at Kottara here on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In his inaugural speech, CITU District General Secretary Vasanth Achary said that development of the nation starts from villages. Ironically, many gram panchayat workers like pump operators are working from 15 to 20 years, still get Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 as salary. They don’t have Provident Fund facility, pension and they don’t come under Janashri insurance policy scheme. Their children don’t have scholarship facility. According to a study, a person needs at least 2,000 calories of food to be healthy, which means he should get at least Rs 15,000 per month. The salary which is being given by the government is enough for breakfast. ‘Acche Din’ should come for labour class first, he said. <br /><br />Unfortunately, the Central and State governments outsource and appoint workers. So, the number of contract employees is increasing in government sector. The feeling of insecurity is increasing among working class. With outsourcing these companies, can provide employment to only few skilled people. In the country like India with huge population, how can it create job opportunities to all, he doubted. <br /><br />“Modi government is giving more stress to the globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation policies of the UPA government. Opportunity is given to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in every field including insurance, telecom, railway and even in defence industry. With the definition of ‘First Develop India,’ the government is just misleading people. Unfortunately, in Labour department itself 70 pc of the workers are recruited on contract basis. How they can provide justice to us,” he said. <br /><br />Restraining labourers <br />The Rajasthan government has amended Industrial Disputes Act, so that one can be terminated from the job without any prior notice and extra salary. It has cancelled the post of labour officer. <br /><br />Moving a step further, it has banned the right to protest. The Central government is also prepared a proposal to pass the same policy in the Parliament through Central Act which is a warning sign, he said. <br /><br />Association President K Yadhav Shetty demanded that while giving benefits to the gram panchayat workers, the government should not consider their approval date (last 10 years), but it should consider the date of joining of a worker. About providing job security and other government facilities, a meeting will be convened with Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Tulasi Maddineni on November 11, he said. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Lead by Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Workers’ Association, demanding basic facilities like job security, provident fund and hike in salary, gram panchayat workers of Dakshina Kannada district started an indefinite strike against the State government, in front of the Zilla Panchayat building, at Kottara here on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In his inaugural speech, CITU District General Secretary Vasanth Achary said that development of the nation starts from villages. Ironically, many gram panchayat workers like pump operators are working from 15 to 20 years, still get Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 as salary. They don’t have Provident Fund facility, pension and they don’t come under Janashri insurance policy scheme. Their children don’t have scholarship facility. According to a study, a person needs at least 2,000 calories of food to be healthy, which means he should get at least Rs 15,000 per month. The salary which is being given by the government is enough for breakfast. ‘Acche Din’ should come for labour class first, he said. <br /><br />Unfortunately, the Central and State governments outsource and appoint workers. So, the number of contract employees is increasing in government sector. The feeling of insecurity is increasing among working class. With outsourcing these companies, can provide employment to only few skilled people. In the country like India with huge population, how can it create job opportunities to all, he doubted. <br /><br />“Modi government is giving more stress to the globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation policies of the UPA government. Opportunity is given to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in every field including insurance, telecom, railway and even in defence industry. With the definition of ‘First Develop India,’ the government is just misleading people. Unfortunately, in Labour department itself 70 pc of the workers are recruited on contract basis. How they can provide justice to us,” he said. <br /><br />Restraining labourers <br />The Rajasthan government has amended Industrial Disputes Act, so that one can be terminated from the job without any prior notice and extra salary. It has cancelled the post of labour officer. <br /><br />Moving a step further, it has banned the right to protest. The Central government is also prepared a proposal to pass the same policy in the Parliament through Central Act which is a warning sign, he said. <br /><br />Association President K Yadhav Shetty demanded that while giving benefits to the gram panchayat workers, the government should not consider their approval date (last 10 years), but it should consider the date of joining of a worker. About providing job security and other government facilities, a meeting will be convened with Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Tulasi Maddineni on November 11, he said. <br /><br /></p>
