Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: Demanding creation of posts of Inspector Panchayats in the newly created blocks, Village Level Workers (VLWs) and Multi-purpose Workers (MPWs) across the State have gone on two-day strike from today.
Call for the strike has been given by the Joint Coordination committee of All J&K MPW/VLW/MGNREGA Workers Union, which is also demanding removal of pay anomalies, reinstatement of the employees, recently suspended by the Minister, regularization of MGNREGA staff and conduct of DPC of VLW/MPWs.
On first day of the strike, the agitating VLWs/MPWs suspended work and held protest dharna at respective district level offices across the State.
At Jammu, the protest dharna was held at the District Headquarter of Rural development Department, Talab Tillo, under the leadership of Om Parkash Sargotra, chairman of the Coordination Committee.
While addressing the dharna, he said that there were only 106 posts of Panchayat Inspectors in the State against requirement of 320 and most of the incumbent were holding the charge of Block Development Officers.
Similarly, he added, only 1890 posts of VLWs/MPWs have been filled against 4295 sanctioned ones, which the result that employees are overburdened and mentally unstable.
“Amendment in SRO-178, was approved by GAD, ARI&T, Finance and Law Department on 13-10-2013 on the proposal of J&K Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Department but till date Amended Schedule of SRO-178 has not been issued by the same department for the reason best known to the concerned authorities,” he added
He also demanded enhancement of Grade-Pay and FTA, DPC in Jammu Province,
filling up of posts of Departmental BDOs and filling up 50 percent quota of Departmental Feeding Cadre.
The protesting VLWs/MPWs alleged that the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayti Raj was biased against Jammu as he suspended VLWs/MPWs of Jammu Province only in last week during the anti-polythene drive under SBM where as in Kashmir province no such action has been taken. They further alleged that no funds and manpower have been kept at their disposal for clearing the garbage and polythene.
Protesters demanded immediate revocation of suspension orders of VLWs/ MPWs of Jammu province and threatened to go on indefinite strike if the same is not done.
Similar protest demonstrations were held at Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Samba, Kathua and Poonch.
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