Demand regularisation of jobs, minimum wages & pension
Pune: Protesting against the government’s step-motherly treatment, around 800 Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) staged a protest march from Shaniwarwada to the District Collector’s office here on Monday demanding regularisation of their jobs, implementation of minimum wages and pension as per regular employees in the Postal Department and salary as per 7th Pay Commission.
The employees, who also went to Pune Post Office, handed over a memorandum to the District Collector and postmaster general of Pune. Meanwhile, the employees have gone on an indefinite strike from May 22.
Along with the postmen, there were 20 to 25 postwomen as well in the protest march, who had come from various areas of Pune division. Rajendra Karpe, Assistant Circle Secretary of the National Union of Gramin Dak Sevak (NUGDS), said, “We are organising such rallies from last 20 to 25 years but still none of our demands have been fulfilled by the Central government.”
Jayram Pagar, Circle Secretary of NUGDS of Goa and Maharashtra, said, “Till now, we never went on an indefinite strike, but now, we will not withdraw the strike until and unless our demands are fulfilled.”
The memorandum also mentioned an important factor that in November 2016, the Centre has constituted ‘Kamlesh Chandra Committee’ to study and make recommendations regarding the Dak Sevaks so as to improve their working and living conditions, but even though the committee has submitted its report, the Centre has pushed the issue under the carpet for the time being.
After receiving the notice, Naval Kishore Ram, District Collector, said, “I will forward the notice to Central government, and then they will take the decision.”
Similarly, Ganesh Sawleshwarkar, Postmaster General for Pune, said that he will forward the notice to postal headquarters in Mumbai. Sawleshwarkar also said, “It is an all-India strike and urban areas are not affected due to it. Nearly, 80 to 85 per cent of GDS from Pune division, which includes Satara, Solapur and Ahmednagar, are on an indefinite strike, and due to this, the rural areas are badly affected. And I am helpless because only the Central government can take decisions over it.”
