Gram Panchayat services may be hit as staff, members begin indefinite strike from today

Bengaluru: Work is likely to be affected at the gram panchayats (GPs) in the state, in the wake of over 40,000 employees, along with GP members, going on an indefinite strike Friday onwards.

Associations allied to panchayat development officers (PDOs), panchayat secretaries, gazetted panchayat officers, tax collectors, bill collectors, data entry operators, water valvemen, peons and GP members had given a call to go on an indefinite strike early this week.

Raju, president of the state PDOs’ welfare association and also president of the RDPR officers,’ employees’ and GP members’ federation, told DH that the government must follow the Kerala model to fix salaries and other allowances for RDPR employees, officers and cadre employees.

“Apart from this, GP presidents and vice presidents must be brought under state protocol. Steps should be taken to clear pending electricity bills of GPs,” he said. These organizations are also demanding more powers to be granted to GPs to improve the functioning of grama sabhas and for enhancing powers of the standing committees.