Citizens suffer as Odisha government employees go on mass leave

Work at several offices of Odisha was severely hit as the district-level ministerial staff across the State went on mass leave for an indefinite period.

Government offices, mainly revenue-related ones like sub-registrar offices, Revenue Inspector offices and Block offices wore deserted as many people returned empty-handed.

A divyang, Brundabana Dalei from Soro said, “I have come to get a signature from the Tehsildar on a no-objection certificate. Now that the clerk is on leave, the Tehsildar is not signing the document.”

"This is the third time in as many days that I have come to this office. But there is nobody to get my work done. I have a baby at home. I cannot come here every day for work that needs just five minutes,” said Sanjulata Nayak from Soro.

“I have booked a slot for land registration. We have come here after painstakingly arranging all the requisite documents. But when I came here, I found nobody at the registrar’s office,” said Saroj Kumar Patra from Jeypore.

Another person from Jeypore, Yudhisthira Roul said, “All the clerks have gone on leave. There was nobody at the Tehsil office when I went there yesterday, and neither there is anybody at the sub-registrar’s office here today.”

Ashok Mohanty from Balakati, who went to the Tehsil office at Khordha, said, “I have come from Balakati for work. But as all the clerical staff have gone on leave, there is nobody to help me out in my work. A lot of people like me are suffering due to this.”

On June 1, at least 50,000 state government employees (Ministerial Officers) launched a cease-work strike across Odisha and went on mass leave demanding hike in grade pay and other perks from the government.

The General Secretary of the District Level Joint Ministerial Officers Forum in Bhubaneswar said, “The employees working at the district level from 2017 have educational qualification of graduation and have mandatory computer proficiency certificates. They have a grade pay of Rs 4200 (Level 9). But we on the other hand are getting Rs 1900 as a grade pay. We are feeling neglected.”

The Amalas have threatened to remain on mass leave until their demands are not met.