By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: The future of thousands of outsourced and temporary employees in Madhya Pradesh hangs in the balance, warned Vasudev Sharma, President of the All Department Outsourced Part-Time Panchayat Employees’ Joint Front, at a press conference held in Bhopal on Thursday. He alleged that large-scale contractualisation of government departments had denied third and fourth-grade workers even the minimum statutory wages, forcing them to work for as little as ₹3,000–₹5,000 a month.
Sharma demanded the formation of a dedicated corporation to regularise these employees and ensure a minimum monthly salary of ₹21,000. He announced a “Hallabol Andolan” in Bhopal on 7 September to press these demands, claiming that the elimination of permanent posts was disproportionately harming weaker sections of society.
Congress state spokesperson Dr Vikram Chaudhary echoed the concerns, stating that India’s greatest strength—its youth dividend—was being turned into a “youth dependent” burden due to misguided policies. He argued that permanent jobs had been shut while outsourcing and contractual hiring had become the norm, amounting to an “open betrayal of the nation’s future.”
Congress President Jitu Patwari has extended support to the employees’ struggle, signalling that the party will actively back their movement.
