Odisha bureaucrats body launches indefinite seize-work protest

At least 50,000 bureaucrats (Amala) launched a seize-work strike across Odisha and went on mass leave demanding raise in grade pay and other perks from the government.

The strike by the bureaucrats, who have been entrusted with the execution of almost all the government works, resulted in the closing of many government offices in the State paralysing the state machinery.

Addressing a press conference, General Secretary of the Amala Front in Bhubaneswar said, “The bureaucrats working at district levels 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 which has caused much resentment among us. We are feeling neglected.”

“We have many times urged the government to eradicate the discrepancies and raise our grade pay to Rs 4200, but to no avail. The government has turned a deaf year towards our demands. We had sent an ultimatum to the government on May 1 to consider our demands by May 31. But the government still did not listen to us forcing us to go on a seize-work strike,” he added.

The Amalas have threatened to remain on mass leave until their demands are met.