ROURKELA: Public services at all Government offices across the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district continue to remain affected as the indefinite strike by clerical staff of Revenue department, owing allegiance to Odisha Rajashwa Amla Sangh (ORAS), entered 17th day on Monday.
The clerical staff is on strike since August 11 over their nine-point charter of demands.
Meanwhile, president of Sundargarh unit of ORAS PK Joshi said the State unit on Monday has decided to defer the decision to go on mass leave until September 8. The Odisha Government has not shown any sincerity to end the stalemate which has led to the suffering of the public, he said.
A senior officer at Panposh Sub-Collectorate admitted that official works have been badly hit while non-judicial and revenue related matters are also getting affected. As a result, the common man is facing a lot of difficulties.
Suresh Topno, who hails from a village under Lathikata block, reached Panposh Sub-Collector office over a land litigation on the day only to find the clerical staff on strike. A frustrated Topno said he spent the bus fare and several hours in vain. ‘’I have no idea when normalcy would return,’’ he said.
Administrative sources informed that about 650 junior and head clerks in the district have joined the State-wide stir of ORAS which has hit essential services like registration and issue of land records, issue of various miscellaneous certificates, marriage registration, maintenance of revenue and tax records, preparation of bills for contract works and other official works. These clerks form the backbone of public services delivery.
Work in the Collectorate, District Rural Development Agency office, three Sub-Collectorates, 17 block offices, 18 tehsil offices, three ITDA offices, two Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), six Sub-Registry and Marriage offices, several Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) offices and 279 panchayat offices have been paralysed due to the strike, the sources added.
Meanwhile, after Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Rourkela BJP legislator Dilip Ray has extended support to the agitating clerks on the day.
Former general secretary of Rourkela Bar Association RK Pradhan said apart from revenue-related matters, both the urban and rural people are not able to get essential documents including residential, genealogy, income, caste, solvency and other miscellaneous certificates.