Panchayat Union Offices wear deserted look as officials go on indefinite strike in Ramanathapuram

Ramanathapuram Panchayat Union Offices deserted as TNROA begins indefinite strike for 10-point charter of demands, incl. filling 7,000 vacancies, special BDO for MGNREGS, upgraded wages for Swachch Bharat Mission workers, no suspensions on last work day before retirement & audit objections cleared 6 months prior retirement. Govt criticized for implementing breakfast scheme without monitoring set up. Talks with Director & Secretary failed to implement promises.

Panchayat Union Offices in Ramanathapuram district wore a deserted look on Wednesday with members of Tamil Nadu Rural Development Officers’ Association (TNROA) commencing an indefinite strike from Wednesday pressing for a 10-point charter of demands.

Among the demands are filling up of 7,000 vacancies in the department and posting of a special block development officer to monitor Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

“The officials had orally accepted to provide the new post, but it has not been implemented so far,” said the association Ramanathapuram district treasurer, R. Vijayakumar.

The association has also been demanding to upgrade the wages for Swachch Bharat Mission workers.

The government should give up the practice of suspending officials and employees on the last work day before their retirement.

“Any audit objection pending against the officer or employee should be cleared at least six months prior their retirement,” he said.

He criticised the State Government for having implemented the breakfast scheme in government schools without creating an organisational set up to monitor its implementation, he rued.