Amid heavy rains on Sunday, members of the Odisha Government Contractual Employees Association (OGCEA), which includes teachers, police, assistants and other class III employees from across the state, raised their demand for uniform service rules for all categories of employees. They gathered on Gandhi Marg. ,
Thousands of contractual employees staged a massive demonstration demanding the government to completely abolish the contractual appointment system in the state administration.
OGCEA president Bijay Kumar Malla said, “We have been given permission by the government, which has appointed us on contract basis to strengthen the financial position of the state, which was affected by the paucity of resources.”
The union put forward the grievances of the contractual employees appointed after clearing the competitive examinations for a period of 6 years only. The association said that despite being highly educated, the employees get a meager salary.
Anita Behera, a female contract worker. The government raised the question by saying, “This is sheer discrimination by the government. While regular employees get a good salary, we are given a meager salary. Are the regular employees buying petrol at a higher price than us or do they get their rations.” Time pays more.”
Behera also pointed out that six years of contractual service does not count towards actual service period, leading to a delay of half a dozen years in his promotion. The normal benefits provided to the regular employees like DA (Dearness Allowance), HRA (House Rent Allowance) and others are also not given to the contractual employees.
“It is our genuine demand for equal pay for equal work as contract workers also perform the same duties as regular employees,” Malla said.
The association has also demanded the implementation of one rule for all government employees.
(with inputs from PTI)
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