The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Benefits for rural weightage employees proposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 16, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Benefits for rural weightage employees proposed

Special Correspondent

Entire service period to be taken into consideration

FOR EQUAL STATUS: Home Minister M.P. Prakash (Second from riight) having a word with president of Rural Weightage Employees Working Committee K.N. Umesh, in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: The Government has asked the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to consider taking into account the entire service period of rural weightage employees in the State for promotion and other fringe benefits, Home Minister M.P. Prakash said here on Sunday.

Speaking at a convention of the State Rural Weightage Employees Federation, organised by the Students Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Mr. Prakash said the Government was following up on the proposal which would benefit 5,017 employees.

Those who were employed under rural weightage quota lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order in 2003.

While the State GOvernment brought in a special set of rules to reinstate them, their service prior to reinstatement has so far been overlooked for promotions and other benefits.

Mr. Prakash said those who argued against the policy of reservation should review their notion of merit in the light of social inequalities. It should not be forgotten that rural students, until the launching of schemes such as Sarva Shikshana Abhiyan, pursued their education under the most adverse of conditions.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA G.V. Sreerama Reddy urged the employees' unions not to lose sight of the larger ideal of social equality in their fight for specific benefits such as salary enhancement.

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