Odisha Jail staff launch fast-on-to-death stir over the 5-point charter of demands

The jail employees under the aegis of Nikhil Odisha Kara Karmachari Sangha have launched a fast-on-to-death stir over a 5-point charter of demands. Earlier since September 13, the jail staff were staging a demonstration wearing black badges.  As no steps were taken by the state government to fulfill their demands, the jail staff launched fast-on-to-death agitation.

Prabodh Satpathy, Secretary of Puri Jail Employees’ Association said, “We had informed the Odisha government and started wearing black badges from September 13. The state government has not listened to our grievances regarding wages in the past 50 years. We had also announced to withdraw the stir if our demands are met within September 25.”

Ajit Nayak, a jail staff of Choudwar jail said, “We have been demanding grade pay at par with police personnel for the last 50 years. But we have been neglected by the Odisha government. We urge the government to fulfil our demands.”

Harekrushna Barik, another jail employee said, “We are demanding to increase the grade pay of warders to Rs 2000 from Rs 1900, chief warders’ grade pay to Rs 2400 from existing Rs 2000, food allowance from existing Rs 400 to Rs 1400, implementation of old promotion scheme and salary along with grade pay and DA.”