Upset over not being paid salaries for years, employees of the Odisha State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development (OSCARD) bank on Monday tried to gherao Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout’s quarters here protesting the apathetic attitude of the Government.
However, the agitators, including women, who assembled under the banner of the All Odisha Card Bank Employees’ Union, were detained by police at Raj Bhavan Square. They could not reach the Minister’s residence.
They alleged that salaries of the employees of 46 OSCARD banks across the State have been pending for last seven years. Some employees have meanwhile retired.
“We have not been paid our salaries for seven to eight years. We can neither give treatment to our ailing parents nor educate our kids. What type of justice the Government is doing with us!” said union president Ratan Maharana.
He said though they had earlier staged a dharna at the lower PMG pressing for their demand, nothing tangible has happened as yet.
“Our agitation will continue till the Government addresses our issues,” warned Maharana. The OSCARD bank has remained defunct due to stoppage of line of credit by the Nabard since 2003.