Chennai: While fronline staff including doctors, nurses, paramedical employees, police personnel and Corporation workers are waging a spirited battle against Covid-19 by risking their lives, there are many other government ‘servants’ who are actually leading a ‘royal’ life, feel many.
Ever since the coronavirus induced lockdown was announced in the last week of March, staff members of many government departments are working nil or very less, but are drawing full salary along with other benefits.
At a time when migrant workers are walking hundreds of kilometres with hungry stomachs and barefoot braving the hot sun and employees of many private companies are facing salary cuts and job losses, these ‘privileged’ government staff are protesting even the decision to delay the DA payments, as the State is facing acute finance crunch due to the pandemic.
Pointing out a few States which decided to cut the pay of government employees for the days they did not work, some frontline staff who spoke to News Today
said, ‘We work 24×7 by putting our own lives at risk. We are staying out of our houses by not seeing our family members for days together. We are fighting with death. But, even after all these hardships, our salary remains the same. Why can’t the government deduct the salary of non-working staff and pay us better? I believe this is a reasonable demand.’
Says a government nurse, ‘After staying at home for two months, my neighbour, who works in a government department, started going to work only last week. That too, he works for just three days a week. I understand that my job demands me to be at work 24×7. At the same time, I also feel that it is my right to expect equality in terms of working hours and pay.’
Even the general public are upset. ‘When I went to a government office for a certificate last week, I was asked to come next month citing shortage of staff. The officials there were not ready to treat me as a human being. They were only focussed at shooing me away. Why should they be given full salary and all benefits even during a tough situation like this? They are treating the lockdown as long holidays. Their salary should be cut for the days they didn’t work,’ asks a senior citizen in Villupuram district. Any answers?