On the seventh day of their indefinite agitation in front of the Assembly, hundreds of Gaon Sathis under the banner of the Gaon Sathi Sangha Milita Kriyanusthan Committee on Monday held a rally here to press their demands.
They have been demanding a minimum monthly incentive of Rs 4,500 and appointment as per their qualifications in the various vacant posts of the Panchayati Raj Department in their respective panchayats, besides regularisation of their jobs.
Committee State president laxmidhar Biswal said, “The Panchayati Raj Department appointed two Gaon Sathis in every revenue village under the MGNREGS in 2008. The total number of Gaon Sathis in the State is now more than 70,000. But we are paid only Rs143 a day whenever we get work, otherwise we get nothing.”
“Despite our representations and appeals to the Government, nothing positive has happened as yet,” said Biswal, adding that if their demands are not met within December 10, the Government will be responsible for any eventuality.
Though we discharge key functions as coordinators for implementation of different welfare schemes and programmes at the grassroots level, we are being neglected by the Government, alleged Biswal.