Punjab panchayat secretaries call off strike

Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department’s panchayat secretaries and other employees have announced to end their strike after approval of their genuine demands by the State Government.

The state Minister in-charge Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, in the presence of the top officials of the department, held a meeting with the representatives of the Panchayat Samiti and the Zila Parishad Employees Association and decided to approve the demands of the employees.

After the meeting, the Minister offered a glass of juice to the protesting employees who immediately called off their strike.

The Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad employees including Panchayat Secretary, Superintendent, Panchayat Officer, Tax Collector, Samiti patwari and other employees were on strike due to their demands related to various issues.

As per the decision taken by the Panchayat Minister and the Department officials, the pending salaries up to March 31, 2018, would be released within a month.

To pay the salaries of the employees of Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad employees through the government treasury, the case for approval would be sent to the Finance Department within a month and to implement pension scheme for the employees of Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad who were recruited from January 1, 2004, to July 8, 2012, the case would be sent to the Finance Department for approval within a month, said the spokesperson.

Spokesperson said that another important issue related to the promotion of Panchayat officers and superintendent to the post of Block Development Officers, the efforts would be made to complete the entire process within a month as the Minister had already directed the officers and the process is on the fast track.

It was also decided to include the representatives of employees associations in the delegation which would take up various issues with the Finance Department related to the demands of the employees.