Data Entry Operators stage demo demanding basic amenities in their jobs

Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: Hundreds of Data Entry Operators today staged demonstration in front of the residence of the Odisha’s revenue minister Bijayashree Routray here demanding permanent status in their job and increment in salary package.

The agitators shouted anti-government slogans calling for immediate fulfilment of their demands.

The data entry operators were appointed on contractual basis in 2006 at 306 Tehsil offices across the state. “Initially we were appointed for preparing land records but later we were engaged in for digitization of land records. Besides we have been attached to different services in various state government initiatives including e-Governance and e-District project. But the government has been ignoring us in granting a permanent status to our jobs,” alleged president of Odisha State Tahasil Data Entry Operators Association, Nrusingha Charan Nayak.

As many as 600 data entry operators were working in 317 tehsils across the state. The association members said that they are bearing the brunt of the price hike in essential commodities to spend their livelihood with a meager monthly salary of Rs 5200.

The association members further alleged that though the General Administration (GA) department had issued a resolution in September 2013 to regularize as many as 46000 government employees working with various departments, but the state government is least bothered about their demand.

“Though we have been on agitation since August 18 at Lower PMG here, the state government is not taking any action. Therefore we are forced to stage demonstration in front of the minister’s house today. We would intensify our agitation if our demands were not fulfilled by the government soon,” warned general secretary of the association, Sangram Keshari Raut.