Not so happy Dasahara for Odisha’s Rozgar Sevaks

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 9:

While Dasahara celebrations are in the air for most across Odisha, such is not the case for hundreds of Rozgar Sevaks who are protesting on the streets of Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar.

Far from their families even during this season of festivity, hundreds of Rozgar Sevaks – representing thousands others–  are demonstrating demanding a better pay package for their work among other benefits.

According to reports, there are more than 6,000 Rozgar Sevaks in the state working across all 314 blocks of the state. They work for the State Government for a meagre pay package of Rs 5,000 per month.

“In 2007, we got appointments as Gram Rozgar Sevaks. The other designation we have is as ‘Multipurpose Assistant’. We used to get Rs 2,000 as an aid. That was not the salary. Later it was revised up to Rs 5,000 in several phases. Even though the government assured us to give permanent jobs and post us as PEOs, it never happened,” said an agitator.

“Our salary is also not being revised any further. What choice do we have? What kind of celebration will it be if we can’t even buy a new pair of clothes for our kids. We are not going back home without a solution,” he added.