Despite repeated appeals and reminders to the Minister and the Secretary to the government to redress their grievances, there has been no tangible action or relief so far. Hence, it has been decided to go on an indefinite stir from March 18, said M. Subramanian, State president of Tamil Nadu Rural Development Officials’ Association here on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, he said that seven different associations have come under one umbrella and across the State, about 30,000 officials attached to the Rural development department, would go on an indefinite strike in protest against the nonchalant attitude of the government.
There is a 20-point charter of demands placed before the officials and the Minister. “Though they heard us at meetings and assured to look into it, nothing had fetched desired results,” he said, and added that the demands were long pending which include regularisation of appointments, revision of scale, filling of vacancies which were more than 4000 across the State, promotions for the officers.
Mr. Subramanian said that in 2012, high-level talks were held with the government. Again in 2014, there was another round of talks. As there was no sign of any progress to solve the demands, the association issued a strike notice, he noted.
As a sequel to the indefinite stir, the members would gather at the Gandhi Memorial Museum on March 7 (Saturday) for a preparatory meet, in which about 10,000 employees from different parts of the State are expected to participate, he said.
Other office-bearers said that Rural Development department handled many key government programmes including MGNREGA, Green house projects, drinking water schemes. In the event of an indefinite strike, the administration would be under severe paralysis and people, especially, those in BPL category would be badly hit.
