Sachivalayam staff protest in Vijayawada over promotions and unpaid wages

Thousands of employees of Andhra Pradesh’s Swarna Grama and Ward Sachivalayams took part in a protest in Vijayawada on Sunday, demanding action on long-standing service and payment issues. The employees organised a march called ‘Chalo Vijayawada’ and gathered at Dharna Chowk despite police warnings. Their demands included two notional increments, a permanent structure for promotions, clearance of wage arrears and resolution of other employment-related matters.

The staff are attached to several government departments. Protest leaders said the government had not invited them for talks after they announced the demonstration in advance. They alleged that authorities had instead tried to suppress the agitation.

Kumar, identified in the report as a protester, said police had declared protests prohibited and warned of action against participants. He alleged that some employees were placed under house arrest. The protesters also accused the government of treating Sachivalayam employees unfairly while using them for tasks including completion of SIR, monthly pension distribution and various surveys.

They said the administration should address their demands rather than deploy police against them. Police personnel were deployed at bus stops and railway stations, BRTS Road, Dharna Chowk and Lenin Centre. Employees said officers prevented staff from organising the protest and took some participants into preventive custody before moving them to different locations.

The employees further alleged that some protesters suffered injuries during the demonstration. Their account of police action and the injuries was not accompanied in the supplied material by a government response.