The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Demand to hike salary of GP computer operators

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Thursday, Oct 02, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Demand to hike salary of GP computer operators

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: About 2,000 youngsters work in 11 districts of Karnataka as computer operators in gram panchayat offices under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

They earn a measly Rs. 2,744 a month, and even this sum is not paid to them regularly.

A State-level convention held by the Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Computer Operators’ Association here on Tuesday demanded that the salary be raised to Rs. 5,000 a month.

They have opposed the Government’s move to outsource the jobs, which would render those already employed jobless.

The association’s State president Maruti Manpade said that there had not been an increase in the salary despite a government circular to the effect that it would be raised.

The Government was keen to outsource jobs of all kinds, including those of computer operators, as per the direction of the World Bank, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India V.J.K. Nair said that the operators should be paid a salary that affords their family a dignified life.

Shivalingaiah, Joint-Director of the NREG scheme, accepted the memorandum and said that a meeting between workers and officials would be held to sort out the issues.

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