At Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, an intense protest was witnessed by more than 500 women members of the cook-cum-helper (Pachika) association. Despite staging a sit-in protest for the past four days, the government did not respond to their demands. As a result, the protesters climbed over police barricades and demanded their rights. They have been protesting day and night, raising the issues of non-payment of wages for the last three months and demanding a hike in wages in accordance with the rise in the cost of living. The health of the protesters also deteriorated during the protest. One ofnthem was taken to the hospital for treatment. Another individual attempted self-immolation, but the police intervened in time and prevented the incident.
The key demands of the protesters include:
- Immediate payment of pending wages
- Increase in wages
- Implementation of “equal pay for equal work”
- Raising the retirement age to 62 years
- Reinstatement of dismissed workers
- Timely payment of wages within the first week of every month
- Provision of ₹1 lakh as death assistance
The women, while protesting on the road, were seen crying, and pleading emotionally by spreading their saree pallus, demanding their rights. However, it has been reported that no (official) has yet come forward to receive their memorandum.
