UP Lekhpals Boycott Tehsil Diwas in Massive Barabanki Protest
Lekhpals in Barabanki protest for pay parity, transfers, and better facilities, boycotting Tehsil Diwas and online duties.
In a significant escalation of administrative unrest, Lekhpals in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, launched a massive protest on Saturday, bringing essential government services to a standstill. Organized under the banner of the Uttar Pradesh Lekhpal Sangh, Ramnagar, the officials staged a demonstration at the Tehsil complex to demand justice for long-standing grievances.
Led by Sangh President Chandan Rawat, the protesting officials took a decisive step by boycotting Tehsil Diwas proceedings and suspending all online work. This move highlights the deep-seated frustration among ground-level revenue officials regarding their working conditions and unresolved administrative issues.
Core Demands: Pay Disparity and Transfer Issues
The Lekhpal Sangh has outlined several critical demands that have remained unaddressed despite repeated appeals to the government. The primary points of contention include:
- Pay Scale Discrepancy: Resolving the 2800 grade pay discrepancy in the initial pay scale.
- Inter-divisional Transfers: Initiating pending transfers to ensure administrative efficiency.
- Designation Alignment: Providing facilities and allowances that are commensurate with their specific designations.
- Workload and Duties: Exempting Lekhpals from performing the duties of Revenue Inspectors.
- Rotation Policy: Transferring Lekhpals who have been stationed at the same desk for several years, following established council procedures.
Technological Gap and Security Concerns
A major point of frustration for the officials is the disconnect between their modern responsibilities and the tools provided to them. Despite being assigned high-tech duties, the Lekhpals claim they have not been provided with laptops or mobile phones for the past five years.
Furthermore, the Union highlighted that while they are performing technical tasks, their positions have not been officially declared as technical posts. This lack of recognition is compounded by the following challenges:
- Gram Sachivalaya Issues: Officials are being forced to work in Gram Sachivalayas despite a severe lack of basic facilities and adequate security.
- Unresolved Results: President Chandan Rawat noted that examination results for Lekhpals have not been declared at the Tehsil level for over a year.
- Incomplete Absorption: The process for permanent absorption remains unfinished.
A Phased Movement: Upcoming Protest Dates
The Uttar Pradesh Lekhpal Sangh has made it clear that this is only the beginning of a phased protest movement. The Sangh has vowed to continue their demonstrations until every demand is met. The upcoming schedule of activities includes:
- Thana Diwas: Lekhpals will wear black armbands as a mark of protest.
- Blood Donation Camps: Organized at the Tehsil and district headquarters.
- October 14: A planned motorcycle rally.
- October 17: A sit-in protest at the Tehsil headquarters.
- October 24: A large-scale demonstration at the district headquarters.