Karnataka’s Panchayat Raj Department has asked gram panchayat employees to postpone a statewide march planned from October 12 over salary increases and other demands, citing the model code of conduct in force for upcoming Legislative Council elections. A meeting to discuss the employees’ demands has been scheduled for October 15.
The request was made by the Secretary of the Panchayat Raj Department to the president of the State Gram Panchayat Panch Employees’ Committee. The committee is preparing a large march from Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru to Bengaluru to press for fulfilment of its demands.
According to the department secretary, the employees’ demands have already been discussed at the government level, but require further examination before decisions can be taken. The department has said that the election-related model code of conduct limits the immediate scope for acting on the demands and that more time would be required.
The secretary also requested the committee president to defer the proposed padyatra in view of the discussions already held and the constraints imposed by the election code. The report did not state whether the committee has accepted the request or whether the planned march will proceed as scheduled.
The government’s position places the protest within the administrative chain that supports Karnataka’s gram panchayats. Employees working at this level are involved in the functioning of rural local bodies, making their employment conditions relevant to the day-to-day delivery of local administration in villages. The source report, however, did not provide details of the specific salary revisions sought, the number of employees involved or the other demands raised by the committee.
The planned march from Tumakuru to Bengaluru represents an escalation of the employees’ campaign after their demands remained under discussion. The committee has identified pay increases and other service-related issues as key reasons for organising the protest.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre is scheduled to hold a meeting with senior departmental officials on October 15 to discuss the employees’ demands and problems. The meeting is expected to provide the next formal opportunity for the department to review the issues raised by the committee.
The immediate question is whether the employees’ committee will defer the march pending the October 15 meeting. The department’s request is based on the ongoing model code of conduct and the need for additional time to examine the demands, while the committee’s response and any decision on the protest schedule were not reported in the available material.
