Chief Minister in 2016 had agreed in writing that the demands were legitimate. He even issued the order to the GA and Finance departments April 16 this year to implement the demands, but the authorities have neither executed it nor have published any notification in this regard.
Mihir Narayan Jena, President of OHDMOA
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Heads of Department Section Officers’ Association and Odisha Heads of Department Ministerial Officers’ Association (OHDMOA) Monday said their pen down strike would continue till the government heeded their demands while rejecting an offer of the Chief Secretary for a meeting Tuesday.
On the 18th day of their strike, members of the two associations Monday obstructed officers and staff from entering their offices at HOD campus at Nataala here to highlight their plight and the apathetic attitude of the government. Members of the associations from Cuttack also participated in the protest.
The members comprise junior and senior assistants, section officers, establishment officers and senior establishment officers in the Heads of the Departments.
They are demanding restructuring of the cadre and conversion of their posts to assistant administrative officer (AAO), administrative officer (AO), senior AO, Chief AO-I and II with AO being the entry level post.
According to them, the Chief Minister in 2016 had agreed in writing that the demands were legitimate. He even issued the order to the GA and Finance departments April 16 this year to implement the demands, but the authorities have neither executed it nor have published any notification in this regard.
Mihir Narayan Jena, President, OHDMOA, told Orissa POST that the Chief Secretary had offered to meet both the associations Tuesday but they have turned it down.
Explaining, he said any review by a Chief Secretary would be an insult to the Chief Minister’s order and they were not in a state for any kind of negotiation.
“The pen down will continue till we get an official notification about it even if it takes another 18 months. The employees from Cuttack and Dhenkanal and other parts of the state will participate on a daily rotation basis in the rally and demonstration at HOD campus,” Jena said.
