Umerkote : Night watchmen and sweepers working in various primary schools across Nabarangpur district gathered today and submitted a six-point charter of demands to Hon’ble School and Mass Education Minister Mr. Nityananda Gond at his residence.
As part of the Odisha Government’s Panchasakha Shiksha Abhiyan, each of the 5G schools has been assigned night watchmen and sweepers, who have been diligently performing their duties—maintaining cleanliness in school premises, taking care of flower gardens, plants, and lawns, and enhancing the beauty and hygiene of school campuses. In addition, they have been actively supporting other administrative and school-related activities.
Despite their dedicated service, they continue to face several challenges. To address these issues, over 30 night watchmen and sweepers from Jharigam, Umerkote, and Raighar blocks reached the minister’s residence in Umerkote and presented the six-point demand memorandum, which includes:
1. Provision of regular salary
2. Direct transfer of salary to personal passbooks
3. Offering job security and permanence
4. Doubling the honorarium
5. Recognition as permanent government employees
6. Clearing pending dues
Present during the submission of the demand letter were Hemant Pujari, Arun Majhi, Bhuvan Santa, Duryodhan Gauda, Bharat Gond, Balaram Pujari, among over thirty other individuals.