Data entry operators seek regular jobs, stage protest in Karnal

Karnal, July 15

Junior programmers and data entry operators, employed under the District Information Technology Society (DITS), went on an indefinite strike on Monday. Under the banner of the Haryana Computer Professionals Sangh, they staged a dharna here and submitted a memorandum to the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister, Sanjay Bathla, to press their demands.

Demand change in service rules

We were assured by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2019 that service rules for DITS employees would be framed, but these were incompletely framed and no employee has benefited from these. There should be changes in the service rules. — Vijay Kumar, State president of Haryana Computer Professionals Sangh

Their demands include regularisation of their services or job security, hike in their salaries, centralisation of DITS with a special budget, equal work for equal pay as per the category and dearness allowances.

Vijay Kumar, state president, Haryana Computer Professionals Sangh, said as many as 2,768 employees had been working under DITS in different departments for nearly 20 years, but their services had not been regularised.

“We were assured by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2019 that service rules for DITS employees would be framed, but these were incompletely framed and no employee has benefited from these. There should be changes in the service rules,” Vijay Kumar added.

“We have also raised the issue of centralising DITS, which will help us get a single head from where we could get salaries easily,” he added.

He said the employees working under DITS should be assured of their jobs until the attainment of 58 years of age. During this period, they should be given equal work and equal pay.

“We will not lift our dharna until our demands are fulfilled,” he added. Meanwhile, due to the strike, work at SARAL Kendras, branches of Deputy Commissioner’s office, tehsils and subdivision offices were affected as registration of vehicles, properties and works related to driving licence were disrupted. Most of the offices wore a deserted look on Tuesday.

“I came here to SARAL Kendra for my driving licence-related work, but I had to return empty handed as the computer operators were on strike,” said Anuj, a local resident.