Kendrapara: Three peons-cum-night watchmen are reportedly being paid just Rs 52.50 each for about 12 to 17 hours of work at the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres here.
The state government had announced in August 2016 that a worker is entitled to Rs 280 for eight hours’ work.
The three night watchmen – Bhikari Charan Swain of Derabish block ICDS, Ranjan Kumar Sethy of Kendrapara ICDS and Debendra Kumar Lenka of Garadpur ICDS – have been working since 2004. They used to get Rs 11 a day while working on contract before 2004.
After Ananta Kumar Sahoo of Rajnagar filed an appeal with the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), the daily wages of night watchmen were raised to Rs 52.50, and their jobs were regularised.
In 2014, the SAT was moved with a second appeal. The then sub-collector had directed the DSW to increase their daily wages to Rs 150. But the decision was not implemented, forcing the peons to live in acute poverty.
There are 65 watchmen in 314 blocks. The public here wants the administration to intervene immediately to get their wages revised.
An official of the Women and Child Development Department in the district said workers at the lower rung were suffering due to lack of support from senior officials.
PNN
