Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090854020300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

CITU supports PR staff strike

Staff Reporter

Linking of salaries to budget release led to uncertainty in payment of salaries

VISAKHAPATNAM: The CITU district council has extended its support to the striking Panchayat Raj staff demanding payment of salaries through treasury, regularisation of the services of contract panchayat secretaries and part-time sweepers.

The council met here on Sunday with president S. Jyoteeswara Rao in the chair.

During the last four years employees of mandal development and zilla parishad offices and zilla parishad schools had organised several protests demanding payment of salaries through treasuries under Head of Account 010. The Government had assured them in August that salaries would be paid through treasuries. Since no positive steps were taken for it, the staff began an indefinite strike, the council noted. Linking of salaries to budget release led to uncertainty in receiving salaries, the council said.

General secretary A. Ajay Sarma charged the government with bowing to the conditions of the World Bank and not seeing reason in the demands of the staff.