Madhya Pradesh Employees Forum to Launch Satyagraha from December 1

Permanent workers of Madhya Pradesh Karmachari Manch will start a state-wide satyagraha on December 1 for their long-pending demands. The movement seeks to highlight issues faced by permanent, irregular, and part-time employees, and aims to secure justice through public awareness campaigns across all districts.

A recent provincial committee meeting with representatives including Ashok Pandey, Raju Singh, Ghanshyam Katare, and others, finalized the decision to proceed with the indefinite satyagraha in Bhopal.

Key employee demands

The employees have presented a list of 10 demands:

1. Revised pay scale: Unskilled workers ₹10,000, semi-skilled ₹12,500, and skilled workers ₹15,000 per month.

2. Compassionate appointments: Permanent workers to receive this benefit.

3. Transfer facility: Introduce transfer options for permanent employees.

4. Gratuity benefits: ₹10 lakh on retirement or death of a permanent worker.

5. Regularization: Regularize daily wage employees.

6. Equal pay for part-time workers: Pay forest committee watchmen, PTS employees, and part-time staff ₹10,000 per month.

7. Parity with central government workers: State workers to receive ₹20,000 per month.

8. Insurance benefits: Free ₹50 lakh insurance for all irregular employees and workers.

9. Pension benefits: Extend pension facilities to irregular employees.

10. Paid leave: Grant 60 days of paid leave annually, including Sundays.

Long-standing issues

Ashok Pandey, a senior representative, accused the state government of neglecting employee welfare for over two decades. “Despite repeated memorandums, none of our demands have been addressed,” said Pandey. Irregular and part-time workers are particularly vulnerable, with no pay scale revisions, regularization, or access to essential benefits like insurance, pension, and leave.

Employees are dissatisfied with bureaucratic policies that have led to repression and denied them their dues. Discontent is rife among lakhs of irregular cadre workers due to the lack of basic entitlements.

The forum has decided to undertake an indefinite satyagraha to address these issues. “We have no choice but to take to the streets. This is a matter of survival for countless workers and their families,” Pandey emphasized.

The satyagraha will focus on Bhopal but include awareness campaigns across the state to inform the public about workers’ plight.

As the December 1 date approaches, the employees' forum aims to mobilize support and demand immediate government action to address their grievances. The protest underscores growing discontent among workers who feel sidelined in matters of fair pay, employment security, and basic rights.

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