Panchayat workers demand minimum wages

• Vidhana Soudha Chalo campaign
• Statewide protest on August 9th

Mangaluru: Karnataka Rajya Grama Panchayat Naukarara Sangha members have urged the state government to ensure fulfillment of their demands at the earliest and if their demands are not met by September 15^th, they have warned of taking out a Vidhana Soudha Chalo campaign.

The members staged a protest under the aegis of CITU outside the Zilla Panchayat office in Mangaluru on Monday and asked for implementation of minimum wages as well as provision for other facilities on par with the state government employees.

“They have not been promoted too, even after putting in several years of service. Workers such as bill collectors, clerks, data entry operators, sweepers, pump operators and water supply workers are not even covered under the Minimum Wages Act,” said Maruthi Manpade and urged the government to frame C and R rules for the gram panchayat employees on the lines of ULBs in the state.

“Bill collectors who have served for 10 years or more should be promoted as Grade 2 secretaries. Pension, gratuity and PF should be made available for the bill collectors. On the basis of the 2011 census, gram panchayats should be upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. The recommendations of the M S Swamy committee report should be implemented. Accordingly, various posts should be created, as per the requirements of the gram panchayat,” he added.

“A memorandum will be submitted to the principal secretary and the minister for rural development. In addition, statewide conventions of gram panchayat workers will be organised in Mysuru from October 28 to 30,” informed Manpade and also said that a statewide protest will be held on August 9^th.