Demanding their jobs back, all Gram Rozgar Sahayaks (GRS) in the district, who were expelled after working for four years, on Friday held a state-level protest against the district administration.
Around 90 GRSs, who were working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in the district, were expelled at the beginning of the current financial year by the district administration.
Unemployed after working for four years, they are demanding their jobs back since the day of their expulsion. The works under the rural employment scheme had come to a halt after the District Panchayat Secretary Union few days back submitted to the deputy commissioner a letter saying they would not take up the work, which was being done by GRS employees.
On Friday, around 200 GRSs from across the state along with labourers working under the scheme started their protest march from the zila parishad, but the police stopped them on way and took them to the deputy commissioner for a meeting.
For at least three hours, the protesters kept sitting outside the office of the deputy commissioner while the members of the state body of the GRS Union held a meeting with the Bathinda DC. The protesters were reportedly assured of reinstatement.
{{/usCountry}}For at least three hours, the protesters kept sitting outside the office of the deputy commissioner while the members of the state body of the GRS Union held a meeting with the Bathinda DC. The protesters were reportedly assured of reinstatement.
{{/usCountry}}Amrik Singh, district president, GRS Union, said, "We had been removed from the job without giving any reason, while the officials cited lack of funds as the reason behind our expulsion. We had worked for four years and were rendered jobless without any intimation. For several days, we were protesting against this move and on Friday, we held a state-level protest. During the meeting, the deputy commissioner assured to reinstate us from Monday."