Lucknow: Manyawar Kanshiram Eco Garden in Lucknow has off late acquired the recognition as a protest site, people from all over the country assemble here to demonstrate and press for their demands. However, this time it is the fourth-class employees working at the Kanshriram Eco Garden who have made turned their place of work as their protest site. The employees have been demanding increase in the grade pay, besides several other demands.

Chandrashekhar, a storekeeper working at the Kanshiram Eco Garden says “we are yet to get the benefit of 7th pay commission, which was implemented in 2016, but has not been extended to us. We do not even get the Diwali bonus which everyone gets but we do not get. He added that there were at least 10-15 employees who have died in the last 12 years, but their dependent have not got the job on compensatory ground.

Bharat Rao Ambedkar another protesting employee said “I have been working here since 12 years, I along with 5300 other employees got the job in 2011, but the grade pay has not been revised since then. We are also deputed at various events of the government like G-20 or other event of the President or the governor, so I want that the wage discrepancy should be done away with.”

After protesting for 13 days, the employees have resorted to strike

In a letter addressed to the principal secretary, Housing affairs and urban planning, UP government and signed by more than 100 employees and dated 28/12/2023. The protesting employees had warned that if their following demands are not met then they would picket the work.

1. Revised pay structure to be increased 5200 to 20200 and grade- pay 1800.

2. Permanent status and promotion (Assured career Progression).

3. Paid medical leave.

4. Job on compassionate grounds to the dependent of the deceased.

5. C.P.F/ N.P.S account.

6. Diwali Bonus.

The employees started boycotting the work related to the electricity supply, water supply, cleanliness etc after no progress was made on the aforementioned demands till 29.12.2023. The protesting employees said that they have been forced to boycott work and that they have been trying to make their grievances heard for a long time. A striking employee told the mooknayak “Four months ago we were assured by the zone commissioner and the member-secretary of the Smarak samiti that our issue will be redressed, but when even after four months nothing positive happened, we attempted to gherao the LDA office in Gomati Nagar but forced was used against us and we were sent back. Later on 20.12.2023, we decided to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister but the police force stopped us midway, and we were not able to submit the memorandum. Later when we started the dharna a representation team arrived to discuss the issue with us, but the talks failed and then we gave the ultimatum of 29.12.2023 to get our issue addressed but even that was breached by the authorities and therefore we are boycotting the work.”

Although the employees started their strike on 30.12.2023 but the Mooknayak learnt that the samiti has warned the striking employees by a letter that those absent from work will be penalised by deducting the wages for the entire duration of the protest i.e from 18.12.2023.

In 2011 around 530 employees were selected under Smarak Samiti, which is responsible for the maintenance, security, management of monuments, museum, parks, gardens created under the BSP government during 2011-12. The recruitment of the candidate was done on governor’s order through LDA (Lucknow Development Authority), the employees. The Samiti is entrusted with the supervision of the following monuments.

1. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal (and the area attached to it,) Lucknow.

2. Manyawar Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, Lucknow

3. Baudh Shantiupvan, lucknow

4. Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Lucknow

5. Manyawar Shri Kanshiram sanskritik sthal and park, Lucknow

6. Baba Saheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park and Gautam Budh Park, Gautam Budh Nagar

7. Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and green garden, Noida.

These monuments attract a lot of tourists every year and with employees going on a strike just two days before the new year eve, the authorities will find it hard to grapple with the shortage of staff.