PANJIM: The Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) has decided to take up various grievances of the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at various constituencies in Goa with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding relief.  

In a meeting of the BLOs on Saturday evening, GGEA said it would raise the issues such as honorarium paid at Rs 5000 pending for last three years, personal phone numbers released on website, owing to which voters call them during the late hours to seek various information, etc.

“The BLOs are telephonically asked to report to AEROs office without any orders due to which the offices in which they work do not relieve them and the officials from AERO warn to suspend them if they don’t report within the deadline. The BLOs are terrorised in the name of suspension which almost all complain that they have now got used to hear it. Yet another issue is that there are no fixed timings allotted, as the BLOs are made to work on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, festivals, after office hours etc due to which they cannot cater to the needs of their families and neither enjoy life. Some mentioned in the meeting that their lives have become worst than that of prisoners,” GGEA President John Nazareth said in a press statement issued on Sunday. 

In a situation that leads the BLOs to public embarrassment, it is alleged they are not treated with courtesy and dignity, unnecessarily issued show cause notices and are even insulted.

“BLOs working in costal belts are insulted and abused during their visits to the houses to collect information,” he said listing down various other grievances by the BLOs. 

Some suggestions that were also put up including requirements at polling stations like fitting of lights, availability of water etc to be entrusted the PWD; BLOs should be compulsorily changed every 5 years, after completing 55 years of age the employees should not be appointed as BLOs, they should be provided with mobile phones which will be switched off during nights and be treated with due respect and courtesy.

“BLOs be given office work for only three days and for rest two days they be made to work as BLOs as was done when the BLOs concept came into force; and to engage any agency and entrust the work of BLOs,” the suggestions list further mentions. 

The GGEA has assured to take up the matter with the CEO for immediate redressal and to hold protests if the demands are not met within three months.