Bhopal,April 29: The Panchayat Secretaries would get increased regular pay scale and would be entitled to Dearness Allowance from the current financial year. Their new designation would be Gram Panchayat Secretary instead of Panchayatkarmi. They would get the pay scale of 2200-3700, 36 percent Dearness Allowance and Rs. 250 per month travelling allowance. At present they are getting an honorarium of Rs. 1600 per month. The Panchayat Secretaries would get the benefit of insurance scheme in addition to this amount of Rs. 3242 per month from April 01,2008. The state government would take necessary steps as per the recommendations of the high level committee constituted for disposal of the demands of Jan Swasthaya Rrakshaks and ASHA workers.

The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made these announcements at a Swagat Mahapanchayat organized by Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Sachiv Sangathan at T.T. Nagar Dussehra Maidan here today. The Panchayat Secretaries felicitated Shri Chouhan by weighing him against blood donated by them.

The Chief Minister said that concrete efforts have been made to mitigate the sufferings of different sections in the state. The Karmi culture has been totally eliminated and after teachers now decisions have been taken in the interest of Panchayat Secretaries. Shri Chouhan said that under the insurance scheme in case natural or unnatural death of a Panchayat Secretary his family would be provided Rs.one lakh as assistance. The benefit would be given to the families of those 22 Panchayat Secretaries who died last year. Shri Chouhan lauded the blood donation made by Panchayat Secretaries. The Finance Minister Shri Raghavji was also felicitated on the occasion.

Earlier, employees' leaders Shri Dinesh Chandra Sharma, Shri Bharat Singh Thakur and others expressed their views. Panchayat Secretaries and Jan Swasthya Rakshaks in a large number were also present on the occasion.