Jeevika Sakhis stage protest in Lakhimpur district, demand job security

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The Jeevika Sakhis (Community Resource Person-CRP) of Lakhimpur district under National Rural Livelihood Mission staged protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office on Thursday demanding their job security and resolution to manifold problems. The protest programme was organized under the banner of Lakhimpur district unit of All Assam NRLM CRPs' Association.

By staging three-hour long sit-in in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office, the Jeevika Sakhis demanded the government to hike their remuneration to Rs. 15,500 from the present irregular amount of Rs. 7000 so that they could make their both ends meet. Moreover, they demanded to provide them Travel Allowance (TA) and Dearness Allowance (DA), ensure free of cost medical services for them and to provide them a laptop computer in every Gaon Panchayat.

Notably, the Jeevika Sakhis have boycotted their services sine die in Lakhimpur along with the rest of the State since February 1 in support of these demands. NRLM is focused on helping the rural poor become self-employed through Self Help Groups (SHGs). A unique feature of this programme has been the formation of village-level institutions by the women themselves, facilitated by local level para-workers known as Community Resource Persons (CRPs), also known as Jeevika Sakhi.

Leading the protesters in the programme, Lakhimpur district unit of All Assam NRLM CRPs' Association president Jonali Phukan and secretary Rupa Gogoi stated in front of the media persons that the Jeevika Sakhis had been working since October of 2012 amid various problems.

"We have been relentlessly working under NRLM for the women empowerment for a long period. But we have been paid a lump sum amount since the beginning till date for our service. As a result of it, we have faced with a lot of problems while discharging our duties. Though we have to get Rs. 350 per day, we are not paid it regularly. We have made consecutive prayers and petitions to the authority concerned and government for the resolution of our problems. But we have got no response yet," the president and the secretary asserted. They demanded the government to pay heed to their problems at the earliest. Later, the organization submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur in support of the slew of their demands.

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