Tiroda computer operators demand three months' unpaid honorarium before Diwali

With Diwali near, gram panchayat computer operators in Tiroda taluka are facing a cash crunch. The operators play a key role in online work at gram panchayats, in implementing various government schemes and in providing online services to people. But their honorarium has been stuck for the past three months, causing widespread resentment among operators in the taluka.

To keep government work going, they are also having to bear internet costs from their own pockets. So that online work at the gram panchayats does not stop and villagers are not inconvenienced, the operators are paying for mobile recharges and broadband themselves. They are not getting the bills for this expense on time either, which has added to their financial burden.

The Maharashtra State Gram Panchayat Computer Operators Association has submitted a memorandum to the chief executive officer of Gondia Zilla Parishad and the block development officer of Tiroda Panchayat Samiti, demanding that the pending honorarium, internet bills and other withheld allowances be paid before Diwali.

The association said in the memorandum that operators shoulder the key responsibility for online work at gram panchayats, the issuing of various certificates and work linked to government schemes. Even so, many operators have not received their honorarium for the past three to four months. The association claims that the honorarium of some staff has been stuck for a year because of technical problems. With the honorarium withheld on one hand and the responsibility of keeping daily work running on the other, the operators are in difficulty.

Diwali is a festival of joy and enthusiasm, but the non-payment of honorarium has cast worry over the operators' families. They are finding it hard to manage household expenses, children's clothes, Diwali sweets and other essential spending. The operators have therefore demanded that the pending honorarium be paid before Diwali.

The association has made these demands of the administration: the honorarium due for the past three months should be paid immediately; the honorarium stuck for a year because of technical problems should be released at once; the outstanding bills for internet used for government work should be cleared; and the operators' other withheld allowances should be paid before Diwali.

The association said operators work regularly to keep gram panchayat work running smoothly, and the administration should therefore look into their pending financial demands and act at once. It also warned that if the demands are not met by October 26, it will join the agitation planned by the state association on October 28 and protest peacefully.

The memorandum carries the names of Tiroda taluka president Kamlesh Surajlal Anwade, vice-president Vaishali Tidke, secretary Kailas Kewat, and state members Toliram Nerkar, Prakash Patle, Nandkishor Patle, Reena Raut, Umesh Meshram, Shailesh Nagpure, Dinesh Patle, Dhanendra Suryavanshi, Hemant Uke, Manoj Harinkhede, Nikesh Katre and Urmila Rahangdale. Other office-bearers of the association and computer operators were also present.