PHE Employees Protest Over Unpaid Salaries Since August; State Employees’ Union Warns of Work Stoppage

Union demands clearance of pending wages before Diwali, threatens departmental strike if dues remain unpaid; alleges junior staff are being made scapegoats for recovery-related responsibilities

Ujjain: The issue of unpaid salaries for employees working under Sub-Division General No. 1 of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has sparked growing resentment. Protesting against the delay in wage payments and the financial difficulties faced by employees, the divisional and district units of the Madhya Pradesh State Employees’ Union organised a one-day sit-in demonstration outside the PHE office at Dewas Gate.

Following the protest, a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted to Tehsildar Shefali Jain, highlighting the employees’ grievances. According to the union, the salaries of daily-wage and work-charged Class IV employees have been withheld since August on the grounds that the required recovery targets have not been achieved through them. The prolonged delay has reportedly pushed several employees’ families into serious financial difficulties.

Junior Employees Allegedly Being Held Responsible for Recovery Targets

Union representatives alleged that junior employees have been assigned recovery-related duties without being given appropriate authority or the involvement of competent officials. They further claimed that during meetings convened by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, senior departmental officials avoid taking responsibility and instead put junior employees forward to answer questions.

The union described this practice as an attempt to make lower-level employees scapegoats for administrative shortcomings.

The memorandum also stated that the concerned employees had collectively contributed to recovering approximately ₹5 crore for the department through their continuous efforts. Despite this, withholding their salaries since August was described as unjust and unfair. The union said it had repeatedly raised the issue with the department, but the absence of any resolution eventually compelled it to organise the protest.

Several Union Leaders and Employees Participate in Protest

Those present at the demonstration included State Organising Secretary Manohar Giri, Divisional President Mangilal Patidar, District President Omprakash Yadav, Working District President Shailendra Singh Thakur, Pensioners’ Union Divisional President Shamsher Singh Tomar, Gopal Singh Yaduvanshi, Vice-President M.R. Mansoori, Rajaram Kachhawa, Spokesperson Dilip Mehta, Annapurna Jaiswal and Ramesh Sarvaiya.

Representatives of the Madhya Pradesh State Outsourced Employees’ Union also participated, including State Secretary Gulshan Mansoori, Rajendra Tiwari, Rajendra Vaidya, Ashok Rao, Mohan Silodiya, Rajhans Gaikwad, Vimla Jain, Pyari Devi and Pushpa Kol, along with numerous employees and union office-bearers.

Work Stoppage Warning If Salaries Are Not Paid Before Diwali

The Madhya Pradesh State Employees’ Union has issued a clear warning that if the pending salaries are not released before Diwali, employees will be compelled to launch a work-stoppage strike in the department.

The union further alleged that administrative arbitrariness by officials in the Chief Minister’s home district is damaging the government’s image as an employee-friendly administration.

Union representatives reiterated that they would continue their struggle to protect employees’ rights, dignity and financial security. They also warned that the agitation could be intensified if the outstanding demands are not addressed.

(SDNA | Truth with the Voice of Society)