Maha: 322 agitating gram sevaks relieved of duties

Around 322 gram sevaks (village level workers), who were on strike in Maharashtra's Akola district over their various demands including pay hike, have been relieved of their duties, an official said on Sunday.

The gram sevaks were agitating since August 22, paralysing work of the local administration and hampering the implementation of various welfare schemes, he said.

"Therefore, they were relieved of their duties on Saturday. Their charges have been handed over to 50 contractual gram sevaks and 56 extension officers," Akola zilla parishad's chief executive officer Ayush Prasad said.

The charge of the remaining 216 posts will be handed over to principals of zilla parishad schools, he said.

"Because of the gram sevaks' strike, several works, like issuance of birth and death certificates and tenders, had come to a standstill. Therefore, we had to take this decision to revive the public services," Prasad said.

The village panchayats will take strict action if those who have now been assigned duties do not report to work, he added.