Employees Take to the Streets Over Pending Demands
Village and Ward Secretariat employees staged a protest in Visakhapatnam on Monday, demanding that the government address their long-pending and legitimate demands. The employees sat on the road in front of the Dwaraka Bus Station, leading to heavy traffic congestion in and around the RTC Complex.
As the protesters blocked roads leading to the bus station, tensions escalated between the employees and the police, resulting in a minor scuffle and pushing between the two sides.
Employees Demand Cancellation of GO No. 11
The protesting employees demanded the immediate cancellation of GO No. 11 and called for an end to deputations. They also sought promotions under a proper and transparent system.
Among their key demands were the sanction of two notional increments, implementation of the Automatic Advancement Scheme, payment of nine months’ arrears arising from delays in the declaration of probation, and sanction of their annual increments.
The employees further demanded that the promotion system be implemented in such a way that every employee receives a minimum basic pay of Rs. 30,000.
Demands for Benefits and Compassionate Appointments
The employees also urged the government to provide all eligible benefits to the families of deceased employees within three months and initiate compassionate appointments without unnecessary delay.
They demanded an end to the practice of harassing employees through WhatsApp messages after 5 p.m. and sought compensatory leave for employees who are required to perform duties on holidays.
Warning of Intensified Agitation
The employees warned that if the government failed to respond to their demands immediately, they would intensify their agitation from the zonal level to the state level.
They said they would continue their movement until the government took concrete steps to resolve their grievances and protect their service rights.
YSRCP Extends Support to Employees
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) extended its support to the protesting Village and Ward Secretariat employees.
Visakhapatnam district president K.K. Raju said the government should immediately resolve the problems faced by employees working in the Secretariat system, which was established to provide government services to people at their doorstep.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to safeguard the rights of its employees and urged the authorities to abandon what he described as a vindictive approach and hold discussions with the employees to resolve their grievances.
K.K. Raju called upon the government to engage with the employees and take appropriate measures to address their demands at the earliest.
