Mail News Service
Saraikela: Panchayat volunteers held a meeting at the Sidho-Kanhu Park here to discuss their two point demands that has already been posed to the state government. The meeting was chaired by the organization�s district president Jitendra Mahto.
The meeting decided that the members would be sitting in an indefinite protest before Chief Minister�s residence from February 20 until their demands were met. The demands include a minimum honorarium of Rs 18, 000 based on same nature of work-same nature of pay as provided to secretariat volunteers and to regularize the Panchayat volunteers� service up to 60 years of age.
Mahto said that these volunteers visited every village to spread detailed information about government projects. But in spite of their sincere and dedicated work they were being paid meager incentive amounts.
Mahto informed, �As long as the government does not accede to our two point demands, our indefinite strike will continue. The district�s 500 secretariat volunteers will sit on protest indefinitely before the Chief Minister�s residence from February 20.�
Those volunteers who were present at the meeting were Babnu Sardar, Krishna Mahto, Naresh Pradhan, Jitendra Daraon, Anil Kumar, Vimal Mahto, Devti Kumari, Babita Mahto, Shankar Mahto, Kamal Mahto and many others from various Panchayat secretariats of the district�s Blocks.
