All-Gujarat revenue employees postpone protest

The all-Gujarat revenue employees’ federation has postponed its state-wide protest demonstration programmes, at least for a week. The federation is protesting the state government’s general resolution issued on February 2 which has brought the deputy mamlatdar cadre of revenue department in the state cadre. Till date the dy mamlatdar cadre was in the district cadre because of which its officers were not transferred out of districts. Now, with the state govt’s decision, these cadre officers can be transferred anywhere in the state. The cadre is opposing the decision. There are more than 4,000 dy mamlatdars in the state revenue department.

Jehangir Baloch, president of all-Gujarat revenue class 3 employees of federation, said, “We have postponed our demonstrations after the principal secretary of the state revenue department said that our issue would be sent to the revenue minister by next week. We will discuss the issue with the ministers and only then will we be in a position to decide our future course of action.”

He added: “There are some genuine issues. Most of the officers are above 40 years of age. They have settled down with their families in the district of their posting. They were recruited in the district cadre and were transferred intra-district. However, now because of the new GR, they can be transferred across the state. This will affect their mental health as they will be distressed by their transfers.”

But government sources say the decision has been taken solely to bring about a change in the attitude of officers of this cadre. “As they were transferred intra-districts only, many of them have established their own nexus with local powers and are exploiting the system.”