MGREGA staff announces unique protest against govt ‘apathy’

To deposit their ‘paltry’ salary hike in RDD Com Sec’s account

5 Dariya News (Rouf Pampori,Yawar Shafi )

Srinagar 20-Jul-2014

Complaining “exploitation”, around 4000 members engaged in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday announced a unique protest against the government ‘apathy’.“Recently government announced a paltry hike of Rs 500 and 1000 in monthly remunerations for various posts which is travesty given inflation,” Shahnawaz Hussain, president MNREGA Union told GNS following their protest at Lal Chowk here against the government decision.

Shouting slogans, hundreds of staffers assembled at Pratab Park here and staged massive protest against government.“Worthy Commissioner Secretary Rural Development (RDD) told us that when he was appointed in government services, his initial salary was only Rs 500. Since he has had very meager salary, we have decided to compensate it through the hike announced in our favour.  We will be depositing the amount hike in his account as mark of protest,” he said.  

He said CIC operators were regularized recently in the RDD department and MREGA staff should also be regularized in the same manner.The protesters also demanded an end to deputation system and also urged fellow employees not to join RDD on deputation basis as it “usurps our rights.” The protesting staff also demanded delegation of powers as provided under MGREGA Act.   He said State Employment Guarantee Council (SEGC) meeting held on Friday again failed to the take decision on delegation of financial and administrative powers to the District Programme Coordinator and the Programme Officer.“Delegation of powers is imperative for effective implementation of MGREGA Scheme. The delay is violation of the Act,” he said, adding, “If our demands are not met and salary hiked at par with our counterparts in Mizoram where a Junior Engineers gets Rs 22000, GRS Rs 9000and a computer operator Rs 16000, we will launch state wide protests.” If the demands were not met, Shahnzawaz said, they will not shy away in moving to New Delhi to protest against injustice.  (GNS)