Odisha Govt Contractual Employees Association Seek Equal Pay For Equal work

Bhubaneswar: Undeterred by heavy downpour, a large number of members of the Odisha Government Contractual Employees Association (OGCEA) staged a massive demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Sunday demanding abolition of the contractual appointment system.

Thousands of activists of OGCEA, including many teachers, from across the state gathered at Lower PMG on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg despite incessant rainfall to protest the contractual appointment rule adopted by the state government.

The demonstrators demanded immediate steps by the government to abolish the contractual appointment rules which were implemented to strengthen the financial condition of the state which was hit by a resource crunch, leaders of the Association said.

“We want the state government to abolish the system of recruiting employees on a contractual basis. We also demand a uniform rule for all categories of employees,” OGCEA president Bijay Malla said.

Under the system, contractual employees are appointed after clearing the competitive examinations. They are recruited as contractual government employees for a period of six years drawing a paltry salary despite their high educational qualifications, protesters said.

When compared to the salary structure of their regular counterparts, the amount being paid to the contractual employees showed nothing but discrimination, they alleged, adding 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, the plight of the contractual employees in the state has worsened over the years. The unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities has compounded their woes,” said Malla.

The OGCEA has also demanded implementation of a uniform rule for all government employees. “We want equal pay for equal work as the contractual employees also perform the same duty as the regular staff,” the protesters added.