Odisha Jail Employees Launch Fast-unto-Death Protest, Seek Immediate Resolution to Wage & Other Issues

Bhubaneswar: Odisha jail employees have initiated a fast-unto-death protest to highlight their five-point charter of demands, including increasing grade pay and revising salaries.

This move comes after a demonstration, where the jail staff wore black badges, commenced on September 13. However, as the state government failed to address their concerns, the employees escalated their protest to a fast-unto-death agitation.

Prabodh Satpathy, the Secretary of the Puri Jail Employees’ Association, expressed frustration over the government’s inaction, stating that they had informed the Odisha government about their grievances and started wearing black badges over a month ago. Their primary demand revolves around wage issues that have persisted for five decades. Satpathy added that they had set a deadline of September 25 for the government to meet their demands, with the promise to withdraw their agitation if their concerns were addressed.

A jail staff member at Choudwar jail highlighted their longstanding demand for grade pay on par with police personnel. Despite 50 years of pursuit, they feel neglected by the Odisha government and strongly urge them to rectify this disparity.

Another jail employee outlined their specific demands, which include increasing the grade pay of warders from Rs 1900 to Rs 2000, elevating chief warders’ grade pay from Rs 2000 to Rs 2400, raising food allowance from Rs 400 to Rs 1400, implementing an old promotion scheme, and revising salaries to include grade pay and DA. These demands underscore the critical issues the jail employees seek to address through their protest.