Gurdeep Singh Lali
Sangrur, January 2
Deprived of nearly five months of salary, the employees of the Atma scheme, which is running under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, staged a dharna on being stopped by the police near the Chief Minister’s residence and raised slogans against the Punjab government. When there was no hearing even after protesting in front of the district headquarters and then in front of the head office in Mohali to get their salaries, the employees of Atma Scheme from across Punjab reached the Chief Minister’s residence today with their grievances. The employees from different districts gathered near the milk plant under the leadership of Atma Staff Union, from where they reached the main gate of the Chief Minister’s residence colony while marching in protest, when they were blocked by the police. Addressing the protest on this occasion, the state president of the union, Gurpratap Singh Aulakh, announced that until the approval of the director for the payment of 5 months’ salary and other legitimate demands, they will continue to protest in front of the Chief Minister’s residence for an indefinite period. Media consultant Gagandeep Singh Cheema and district president Gurvinder Singh said that under the Atma scheme, about 450 employees have been working in various positions in Punjab for more than 10 years, and 60 percent of the salary is paid by the center and 40 percent by the state. It is given by Govt. The state convenor of the union, Kuldeep Singh, said that the salary is never received on time. The salary has not been received for 5 months due to which the staff is suffering financial and mental abuse. During the strike, the district administration had asked to arrange a meeting with the Finance Minister or the Agriculture Minister, but the employees are adamant on the demand of arranging a meeting with the Chief Minister. They were on strike till the news was written.