Odisha: Gram Rojgar Sevak Tries Self-Immolation Over Pending Dues In Bhadrak

Bhadrak: A Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) of Guagadhia panchayat under Basudevpur block in the district on Thursday attempted self-immolation over ‘non-payment’ of his dues for the last several months.

The GRS Utkal Mallik alleged that the Basudevpur BDO is not releasing his salary even after over 10 months. "The BDO has been giving me assurances for the last several months now. If I am not paid within the next 3-4 days, I will kill myself. The BDO will see my body lying here and my wife sitting beside it crying," said Mallik.

He further alleged that the BDO is intentionally not releasing his salary over personal enmity. "The BDO should be asked as to why he is behaving like this with me," he added.

Responding to the allegations, Basudevpur BDO Pranab Kumar Behera said, "GRS are contractual employees. We had hold up his salary for a few months on 'no work, no pay' basis. After getting report from the GP, we released his salary for two months recently. He again came up to me with a letter from the GP over the release of his pending dues but we are yet to get any official letter in this regard."

Behera alleged that Mallik attacked the office peon and forcefully barged into the office and locked the gate from inside. "He poured kerosene and threatened to set himself ablaze when other staff of the office managed to overpower him and took outside," he said.

"We will take up the matter with the GP and settle his (Utkal Mallik) salary issue," he added.