Employees stage road blockade in Thoothukudi and Nagercoil

Members of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Employees Union, affiliated with CITU, staged a road blockade in Thoothukudi on Monday, to press for their demands.

During the protest, employees raised demands, including payment of salaries of ₹725 and ₹863 for sanitation workers, valve operators, drivers and drinking water project employees as per the government orders and high court directives.

They also urged the government to reinstate the old pension scheme, immediate compassionate appointments for the heirs of employees who died while on duty ,cancellation of professional tax deducted from contract workers, and permanent employment for contract workers who have completed more than two years of service.

The protesters began with a rally from Thoothukudi corporation office, and later staged a road blockade in front of Anna bus stand in Thoothukudi, causing disruption to the traffic.

K. Kasi, district vice president, CITU, Muniyasamy, district secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Employees Union and other members of CITU were present at the protest.

Police have detained around 100 people who participated in the road blockade and released them by evening.

Meanwhile, in Nagercoil, the road blockade was conducted near the Collectorate. Around 200 people participated in the protest was detained and later released in the evening.