GP employees demand various facilities at 24-hour protest

GP employees demand various facilities at 24-hour protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 3, 2011 :  The Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Employees Association organized a 24-hour protest in front of the ZP office in Urwa on Nov 3. The event was inaugurated by Maruthi Manpade, the state president.

In his inaugural address, Manpade said that the CITU is the only association that upholds labourers’ rights, adding that all unorganized workers must get a minimum monthly pay in the range of Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000, especially because the prices of essentials have gone up.

Criticizing CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda, he said that the CM does not appear to be interested in solving the problems of his own district. Although 3 months have passed after DVS took over as the CM, he has not yet done anything for the district, he added. Recalling that the CITU had protested thrice and submitted memorandums to the DC with regard to problems of government employees when CM Yeddyurappa was in power, he said that still the state government has turned a deaf ear to their problems.

Some of the demands of the employees include sanctioning of pensions, which are pending from the past 3 years, fixing a minimum salary for government employees, considering each TP as one unit, and the implementation of employee future fund policy.

Further, Manpade said that the government act makes it mandatory for the opening of a separate bank account for panchayat employees and that 40 percent of the grant should be credited to this account. He also demanded the immediate enforcement of the Janashree Insurance Policy and the reservation of 50 percent of assistant accountant posts for panchayat employees. He also said that pump operators must be given all facilities under Section 112 along with job security.

He also wanted to know why the state government is not sanctioning any funds for GP development when Kerala is granting Rs. 5 crore each to each GP.

He warned that the association will stage intense protest in front of CM Sadananda Gowda’s house as well as Jagadish Shettar’s house.

Vijayendra Koni, the secretary of Udupi unit of CITU, and Venkatesha Koni, its president, were also present.