When we think of protests, we often imagine common people sitting on dharna (sit-in protest) to express their demands in front of government offices. But in a surprising turn of events in Ashoknagar district, Madhya Pradesh, the Patwaris themselves staged a protest! Patwaris, who are responsible for maintaining land records, gathered at the main gate of the Collectorate to demand a solution to their problems.
The Patwaris wanted to meet the District Collector personally to hand over their memorandum, which listed their grievances. However, when other officers came to collect the memorandum on behalf of the Collector, the protesting Patwaris refused to hand it over.
What Happened During the Protest?
On Monday, the Madhya Pradesh Patwari Association reached the district headquarters in the form of a rally. Their objective was to highlight their issues and submit their demands directly to the Collector. When they were not allowed to meet him immediately, they decided to sit on a dharna at the main gate of the Collectorate. The protest lasted for around two hours as they waited for the Collector to arrive.
What Are the Patwaris Demanding?
The District President of the Patwari Union explained the key problems faced by the Patwaris:
- Unpaid Compensation under Swamitva Yojana:
The Central Government’s Swamitva Yojana (a scheme to map rural land ownership) involves paying Rs 12,500 per village (gram) to Patwaris. However, they claim that they have not received this payment despite completing the work. - Work Pressure on Holidays:
The Patwaris alleged that they are being pressured to work even on Sundays, holidays, and festivals. They described this as mental harassment by the administration, which constantly assigns tasks without considering their personal time.
Officials Try to Intervene
When the Patwaris remained firm on meeting the Collector, Joint Collector Rohit Raghuvanshi arrived to accept the memorandum. But the Patwaris refused to give it to him and insisted on meeting the Collector only. During the conversation, the Joint Collector asked them if they had booked an appointment to meet the Collector. Despite further persuasion by Tehsildar Rohit Raghuvanshi and Naib Tehsildar Mayank Tiwari, the Patwaris refused to back down.
Outcome of the Protest
After sitting in protest for two hours, the Patwaris eventually handed over the memorandum to the Additional Collector. However, their protest made it clear that they are unhappy with the current working conditions and will not back down until their demands are heard and addressed properly.
Why This Matters
The protest by government employees like Patwaris highlights the growing frustration over unpaid dues and increasing work pressure. Their demand for fair treatment, timely payments, and better work-life balance reflects concerns that are relevant not only to Patwaris but to many public servants across the country.
