Staff belonging to 15 panchayats go on protest

The workers of Perumbakkam Panchayat participate in SIT in protest demanding the payment of the time scale, on Saturday. | Photo credit: R. Ravindran

The temporary staff belonging to several Panchayats is in protest of the subcontracting of their work. The staff has been working as conservation personnel, water tanks operators, drivers, electricians and computer assistants in 15 Panchayats, including Perumbakam, Sithalapakkam, Ottiyambakkam, Medakkkam, VenGavañasal, Tirusoolkam and Koiling Forest.

“Some have the legs that work for about 30 years to join less than ₹ 19.50 per day. Today. Men and women win ₹ 546 a day without other benefits such as PF or Esi. Our salaries are paid from the first account. Subcontracted,” said a worker.

Another worker said that his services had been used by cyclones of duration, floods and Covid-19 pandemic. “We have kept blinds in the houses, supplied medications and only one buried to those who died of Covid. We have no work schedules, but worked at vacation and weekends. But now they are the show of bees in a quite poor way,” he said.

The workers, who numerate around 300, have urged the Government to continue working on their work or submitted to wages at a time scale. In some Panchayats, regular work, including water supply and conservation work, have the tasks a bit and in some others the staff had worked.

Sholinganallur MLA ARAVIND RAMESH said the problem would be addressed to the minister in question and Prime Minister MK Stalin. “We hope a positive result is coming or that,” he added.