Employees of Goa Village Panchayat Union (AITUC) staged protest at Azad Maidan on thursday, demanding the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission pay structure. The protest, drew a significant number of employees from various village Panchayats across the state.
Despite numerous appeals, prayers, petitions, and representations to the government and concerned authorities, the Panchayat employees, including clerks, peons, typists, librarians, messenger boys, gardeners, and sweepers, lamented the lack of implementation of the 7th Pay Commission pay structure. This structure, they argue, is long overdue and necessary to ensure fair compensation for their services.
The Panchayat employees highlighted their pivotal role in Goa’s administrative system, operating at the grassroots level as an autonomous body under the provisions of the 73rd constitutional Amendment and The Goa Panchayati Raj Act 1994. Despite being designated as a ‘Common Cadre’ and being made transferable within the Taluka Block, these employees feel neglected in terms of adequate compensation for their multifaceted roles.
Besides their routine duties, which encompass a wide range of responsibilities, Panchayat employees often find themselves performing additional tasks such as attending Gram Sabhas as observers, election duties assigned by collectors, economic and agricultural surveys, and even duties under the Disaster Management Act, especially during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are multitaskers, often working beyond our designated hours and sacrificing weekends without proper compensation,” remarked protesters.
The discontent among Panchayat employees stems from the fact that they are currently being remunerated as per the 6th Pay Commission, effective from April 1, 2008, which they argue is outdated and does not reflect the current cost of living or the value of their contributions.
The Goa Village Panchayat Workers Union has submitted a detailed memorandum to various ministers and MLAs of the ruling party, urging them to address the non-implementation of the 7th Pay Commission pay structure. Despite assurances from ministers and MLAs to raise the issue with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, no concrete action has been taken so far, further fuelling the frustration among Panchayat employees.
The protest at Azad Maidan serves as a symbolic expression of the anger and resentment prevailing among Panchayat employees in Goa. They have called upon the government authorities, particularly the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godhino, to expedite the issuance of a Gazette Notification extending the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission pay structure to all village Panchayat employees in Goa.
