Thousands of members of the All Odisha GPLF (Gram Panchayat Level Federation) Mission Shakti launched a massive protest at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Monday to press for their nine-point charter of demands.
The protesters have threatened to intensify their protest if their demands are not met at the earliest.
The GPLF comprises women Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the Gram Panchayat level. It provides a common platform for member SHGs to voice their grievances. However, the members of the federation alleged that they are underpaid and not getting enough dues for their hard work and services at the panchayat level.
Their 9-point charter of demands include permanent job for all community support staff (CSS), hike in salary, transport costs, mission shakti card, dress code and reimbursement of mobile bills.
This apart, they also demanded extra bonus and their inclusion under the ESIC scheme.
All Odisha GPLF Mission Shakti workers’ association president Nirupama Nayak said, “Women of all the districts of Odisha including western and other interior parts of the state have assembled here today. Our only request to CM Naveen Patnaik is that we work at the grassroots level; we take his schemes to every household in many interior, inaccessible areas. But, we are hardly paid for the work we do and the services we provide.”
“Our only demand is for permanent jobs and hike in our salary. We will continue to fight for our rights and intensify the protest if our demands are not met,” she added.
(Reported by Niranjan Reddy, OTV)