Odisha Secretariat employees hold black badge protest, demand hike of ASO salary to Level 10

The members of Odisha Secretariat Seva Sangh on Friday staged a black badge protest in front of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to press their several demands including raise in the basic salary of Secretariat cadre employees.

The Sangh has been demanding resolving various pay disparities and restructuring of the cadre. Besides raise in the basic salary, the association is also demanding the increase of the salary of ASO to Level 10. The Sangh members wore black badges and staged the demonstration.

The Sangh members said that they had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister some seven months back. Later, the Chief Secretary had convened a meeting, but no step has been taken so far even though two months have passed, the members alleged.

“We are not comparing with other categories, but it should be with other Secretariats. If other departments are able to get their grievances redressed, why should we be neglected?” questioned Ajay Swain, President of Odisha Secretariat Seva Sangh.

According to Swain, the salary of an ASO joining the Secretariat is at level 9 and the association is demanding it to be increased to level 10. He said the demand is being made for the last 15 years before the Chief Minister.

“In the last 25 years, the Odisha Secretariat Seva Sangh had not taken such a decision. We will wear black badges for the next 7 days and resort to cease work if CM doesn’t intervene,” said P. Baral, general secretary of the Sangh.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government could not be contacted over the allegations levelled by the Sangh members.