Patna: The Bihar Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Officers’ Association on Monday launched a phased agitation over a seven-point charter of demands, alleging inadequate infrastructure, administrative irregularities and difficulties faced by field-level officers. As part of the protest, welfare officers across districts wore black bands on Sept 11 while continuing to perform their official duties. The association has announced that officers will again wear black bands from Sept 16 to 23 while remaining on duty. The association has also indicated that the agitation would be intensified if its demands were not addressed.The association has submitted information regarding its protest programme in advance to chief secretary, secretary of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes welfare department and the department minister.Sanjay Kumar, president of the Bihar Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Association, said, “Our key demands include providing office rooms, equipment and support staff to welfare branches at block and sub-divisional levels. The association has also demanded withdrawal of departmental proceedings allegedly initiated against 388 of 450 serving officers without approval of the competent authority.”Another demand is the abolition of the Secretariat Monitoring Cell and a review of long-term deputations of field officers to the Secretariat. The association claimed that more than 50 officers have been on deputation for periods ranging from three to over 25 years, causing an annual financial burden of around Rs5.4 crore on govt.The officers have also sought govt vehicles or fixed travel allowances, particularly for officials required to visit remote scheduled caste habitations.The association has demanded appointment of dedicated managers for residential schools and hostels, amendments to service cadre rules, gazetted status for its officers, restoration of financial powers to sub-divisional welfare officers and removal of alleged pay disparities.
