Speaking on behalf of the labourers, Kodagu District Gram Panchayat Employees Association President P R Bharat who led the protest said, according to the recommendations of III Finance Commission in the year 2008, Gram Panchayats having less than 4,000 population will get Rs 9 lakh grant, the Gram Panchayats with population ranging between 4,001 and 8,000 are eligible for receiving Rs 12 laklh grant and GPs with population exceeding 8,000 are inclined to receive Rs 15 lakh grant. Though the CM had announced of implementing the Commission recommendations in the 2010-11 budget, he has failed to implement it,” said Bharat.
The protesters gathered from various parts of the district urged the State Government to implement the State Finance Commission’s recommendations on the similar lines of the Central Government which has implemented the Central Finance Commission’s recommendations.
Explaining various other demands of the employees and the labourers, Bharat said, the system of introducing separate head to provide salary to the employees from the grant too has not been implemented. “Time and again we have been urging to provide 40 per cent of the grant money to the employees through separate heads. With the delay in implementing the recommendations of the Commission developmental works have been halted. The employees too are not receiving proper salary. Though Rural Development and Panchayatraj Minister has assured of increasing the grants, the assurance has not been realised so far,” he regretted.
Speaking about the government’s direction for implementing provident fund, he said the Taluk Panchayat CEOs have not taken any initiative in this regard. The government must provide the minimum salary every month fixed by the Labour Department and must also provide Dearness Allowance, he urged.
Some of the other demands of the protesters include recruitment for the vacant Secretary-2 posts, to promote the SSLC passed valve men to the post of tax collectors and to consider computer assistants as Gram Panchayat employees.
Meanwhile, Hamali Naukarara Sangha demanded for the provision of more grant to the Social Security Board of the unorganised sector employees and to increase the facilities to Hamali workers.
Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through ZP CEO.