BLOs protest over pending remuneration, disrupt SIR exercise in Secunderabad Cantonment

More than 100 booth-level officers staged a protest at the Secunderabad Cantonment Board office over pending remuneration for election duties, disrupting the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise. Officials assured that the long-pending payments would be released next week.

Hyderabad: Over 100 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) held a protest over the non-payment of remuneration, halting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral process in Secunderabad Cantonment.

The SCB had roped in Anganwadi teachers and others for the exercise in the Secunderabad Cantonment assembly constituency. On Wednesday, the women BLOs suspended their duty of distributing enumeration forms, arrived at the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) office, and held a protest around noon.

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The BLOs said the State government failed to pay remuneration for attending poll duty during the Secunderabad Cantonment assembly elections and the by-election, in which they were deputed, and that they were again assigned to SIR duties.

The protest continued for an hour, and the BLOs raised slogans against the state government for keeping the remuneration pending for the past many years. “Each BLO has to get Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 for the election duty but till date not received full payment. A meagre amount of around 5% was paid so far,” the protesters said.

The BLOs in charge and the Superintendent of the Health wing in SCB, Devender, assured the BLOs that the CEO had received a cheque regarding payment, and it would be disbursed next Monday, as the CEO was out of station.

Meanwhile, BRS leader in Secunderabad Cantonment and official spokesperson Manne Krishank tweeted about the protest and criticised the State government over the non-payment of remuneration to the BLOs.