The Gram Panchayat personnel from across 164 Gram Panchayats started an indefinite protest in front of the DC’s office here demanding regularisation of their services and elimination of unscientific work pressure.

 Panchayat Development Officers’ (PDOs) Association district president Siddesh said the works assigned to the Panchayat staffers are totally unscientific. They discharge duties on par with any other government worker, but there is security for their jobs. The minimum basic salary is not being provided. There is no promotion and most of the vacancies at higher level in the district have not yet been filled, he claimed.

He charged that if at all the panchayat staffers fail to execute the work despite repeated attempts, they are given notice immediately. This is unfair. There is no PFI, pension, ESI facilities for Panchayat staffers, he said and demanded that the staff shortage at Bapuji Seva Kendras should be looked into with priority. The process of promotion for the Panchayat workers should be initiated immediately, he added.

He said if a case is filed against Panchayat staffers, a departmental inquiry should be held instead handing over the case to Lokayukta. The job of computer operator should be created at all gram panchayat offices. Permanent pension schemes should be provided to the workers who joined the service after 2006. The pump operators work for nearly 18 hours a day, still their service is not being recognised, he regretted. Siddesh also demanded the inclusion of Panchayat administration into e-governance.

A separate directorate should be set up for Panchayat Raj department and the welfare schemes supporting the panchayat workers should be started, he demanded.
DH News Service