Temporary employees of Shree Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri withdraw stir

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Dec 17:

Temporary employees of the Shree Jagannath temple at Odisha’s pilgrim town Puri who were on an indefinite dharna demanding regularization of their jobs and hike in wages withdrew their agitation this afternoon following assurance of hike in wages by the temple administration.

The 243 agitating temporary employees Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) withdrew their dharna after the niti prashashak (ritual administrator) of SJTA PK Hota and other officials of the SJTA assured the office bearers of the Shree Mandir Karmachari Sangh (SMKS) for a hike in their wages.

The Class III and Class IV temporary employees of the SJTA who are 243 in number were on an indefinite dharna in front of the SJTA office since Monday demanding regularization of their jobs and hike in their wages.

The niti prashashak, Hota had yesterday failed to convince the office bearers of the Shree Mandir Karmachari Sangh (SMKS) from withdrawing from their agitation as they remained adamant in their position and had rejected SJTA’s proposal.

The SMKS was demanding a minimum salary of Rs 15,000 for Class III employees and Rs 13,000 for Class IV employees.

Sevayat Nijogs (servitor bodies) of the Shree Jagannath temple had extended their support to the agitation by the temple’s temporary employees.