Hundreds of ward coordinators on Wednesday braved the scorching heat and staged protest outside Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar alleging they have not been paid their salaries for the last eight months.
Their request to meet 5T chairman VK Pandian and CM Naveen Patnaik was reportedly declined, forcing them to stage a sit in in front of the Naveen Niwas.
Interestingly, most of the protestors are from Aska constituency, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s home turf. The protesting women alleged that they have not been given even a single penny, except for a saree (uniform).
“We have been deprived of our monthly salary since the last eight months. They appointed us with the false promise of Rs 12K a month. However, even after working for eight months, we haven’t received a single penny,” an angry protester lambasted Naveen Patnaik.
Another woman roared, “Officers sitting in AC rooms are getting their salary on time. We are made to run from village to village, block office to district office, but haven’t received a penny. It has been eight months now. We have assembled here to narrate our plight to CM Naveen Patnaik, but we are not being allowed to go inside.”
“We also have the agreement and appointment papers with us. They have appointed us at NACs and Municipalities. But we are not getting our due. We will not call off the protest until we are given justice,” threatened another protesting woman.
After being denied meeting with CM Naveen Patnaik, the women resorted to protest outside Naveen Niwas during the filing of this report.