Finance
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced an increase in the meeting fees of Gram Panchayat and Block-level Federation workers under the Mission Shakti programme of the state.
Mission Shakti has grown to be a major movement in the state and has contributed significantly to women’s social and economic empowerment. Numerous federations at the village and block levels have been crucial in this. These federations are uniquely positioned to carry out the self-help groups’ programs. Mission Shakti Federation employees suggested raising their pay in a number of regions during 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman Karthik Pandian’s district visits. After talking with the Chief Minister about the matter, Patnaik agreed to raise the cost of their meetings.
This decision has resulted in a rise of Rs 500 in the meeting fees for the secretary, other working members, and the president of the Gram Panchayat and block-level federation. This increased fee will be applicable from October 2023 retroactively.
Block-level federations’ president and secretary would now receive Rs 4,500 every meeting instead of the previous amount of Rs 4000. In a similar vein, the other working members will now receive Rs 2,500 instead of the Rs 2,000 they previously received.
Comparably, other working members will receive Rs 1,500 instead of Rs 1,000, while the president and secretary of village-level federations will receive Rs 2,500 instead of Rs 2,500 for the meeting.
The government will have to pay this Rs 249.21 crore a year.
It is noteworthy that the state has 3042 other members in addition to the 676 block-level federation presidents and secretaries. In Gram Panchayat Federations, there are 13,588 presidents and secretaries in addition to 108,704 additional members. As such, a total of 1,26,010 employees will be benefited following the rise in their meeting fees.
