Odisha jail staff suspend stir after assurance from govt

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 26:

Over 1,800 employees in 92 jails across Odisha who were on hunger strike for an indefinite period demanding hike in grade pay suspended their agitation this evening.

The agitating jail employees put their agitation on hold following an assurance from the state government to resolve their issues within a month.

The agitation was suspended after Additional Director General (Prisons) Arun Kumar Ray held discussions with the office bearers of All Odisha Jail Employees Association (AOJEA) on this account this evening and made known the government’s intent, informed Mohammad Tamimur Rehman president AOJEA.

The AOJEA had resorted to indefinite hunger strike from Monday demanding grade pay parity for warder, head warder and chief warder posts with that of constable, havildar and havildar major serving in the police department.

Earlier to resorting to hunger strike jail employees as a mark of protest against the discrimination had worn black badges since October 20.