Thousands of Odisha Government Contractual Employees’ Association (OGCEA) members on Sunday staged a demonstration at the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar against the contractual appointment rule of the State Government.
The association members, who held a dharna braving incessant rains, demanded that the State Government abolish the contractual appointment rules which are implemented since 2013.
Under the system, a contractual employee is appointed after clearing the necessary examinations, tests conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC). Later, they are engaged as contractual government employee for a period of six years which entitles them to a paltry salary compared to the regular counterparts, allege the employees.
“The six years of contractual service is not added to the original service period for which the promotion is delayed by six years. The contractual employees are also not getting DA, HRA and other benefits. Under such circumstances and amid the price hike of essential commodities, the contractual employees suffer the most,” said a senior member of the OGCEA.
The OGCEA also demanded implementation of one rule for all Government employees.
“We are demanding equal pay for equal work as the contractual employees also work as the regular employees,” said another senior member of the association.
Opposition parties BJP and Congress extended their moral support to the agitation and demanded that the State Government sympathetically consider the contractual employees’ demands.