CHENNAI: The State government's recently launched Unga Kanava Solluga (UKS) initiative is facing a hurdle at its first step after programme supervisors went on strike, demanding fulfilment of various demands, including a salary hike.
The mission coordinators of the UKS programme are on strike from January 6, pressing 14 demands, including a permanent salary hike.
Over 3,500 coordinators of the Tamil Nadu State Urban and Rural Livelihoods Mission (TNCDW), who are supposed to handle the scheme through Self Help Group (SHG) volunteers under their control, have expressed their disgruntlement by going on strike. Already burdened with coordinating with five to eight villages for SHG-related work, the supervisors have said they can't continue without an increase in pay.
Explaining their responsibilities, a coordinator said, "We are not only coordinating SHG activities, but also ensuring the disbursal of loans to SHGs. We are tasked with handling Rs 600 crore loans for SHGs in each district. In addition, several other duties have been assigned to us. A recent example is the Unga Kanava Solluga programme."
The mission coordinators of the SHG scheme, appointed as supervisors for the Unga Kanava Solluga (UKS) programme, are finding it too much to handle. The role of the supervisors includes allocating households to Self Help Group (SHG) members and monitoring the enumeration process under the Kanavu initiative.
If SHG members do not carry out the enumeration properly, we have to do the work ourselves. Over the past 15 days, we have prepared identity cards and completed other related work for the UKS programme
A supervisor
Under the livelihood mission, coordinators are appointed on a consolidated pay basis, and their positions are not permanent. It is renewed every year.
"Most of the coordinators are women, and we want permanent jobs instead of appointments renewed every year. We are requesting an annual salary increase commensurate with our work. Employees working in urban areas need travel allowance, and women workers should be granted paid maternity leave," the coordination committee of employees of the TNCDW said in a statement.
Due to the strike, the UKS programme could not be launched at the initial stages, leading to delays. The government has held talks with the employees' coordination committee and expects to resolve the issue soon.