Employees of the Cooperative Central Bank in Balaghat staged a protest under the banner of the Cooperative Society Employees Federation, demanding that their long-pending issues be resolved. The employees have warned of a larger demonstration in Bhopal if their demands are not met by March 5.
Statewide Protest Planned If Demands Are Ignored
Representatives of the Federation stated that if their demands remain unfulfilled, cooperative employees from across Madhya Pradesh will march to the Chief Minister’s residence and the Cooperative Minister’s office in Bhopal to intensify their agitation.
Unfulfilled Promotions and Salary Delays
Dinesh Parihar, a provincial representative of the Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Employees Union, highlighted several grievances. He pointed out that in 2023, the government had ordered that 60% of Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) employees be promoted to district banks. However, the district administration has not implemented this order. With employees nearing retirement, many could lose their right to promotion.
Parihar also mentioned that the salary increase of ₹3,000 for society salesmen, which was approved in October 2023, has not yet been disbursed. Employees are struggling financially due to this delay.
Issues from the COVID-19 Period Still Unresolved
Another concern raised was the offline food distribution that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since this distribution was not recorded in the POS (Point of Sale) machines, many employees are now facing difficulties, as records of their work are incomplete.
Federation Demands Immediate Action
Federation Secretary M.P. Thackeray expressed frustration, stating that while employees have been given repeated assurances, their problems remain unsolved. He warned that if their demands are not fulfilled by March 5, a massive protest will take place in Bhopal to demand justice for cooperative employees.
