The recently announced Haryana Contractual Employee Service Security Act 2024, aimed at providing job security and benefits to contractual workers, has sparked controversy by excluding 120 accounting and program staff members working under the mid-day meal scheme. These employees have been serving at the state, district, and block levels for the past 14 years under the Department of Elementary Education.
Exclusion Causes Resentment:
The exclusion of these employees from the Act has led to widespread resentment, as they argue that they are being unfairly left out on the pretext of working in a central government scheme, despite being Haryana residents and the scheme being implemented within the state. The affected employees pointed out that those working in other schemes, such as the National Health Mission (NHM) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), are receiving benefits under service security and service bylaws, while the staff under the PM Poshan (formerly Mid-Day Meal) scheme are being denied both adequate salaries and job security.
Employee Concerns:
The affected employees have made an appeal to the Haryana government, requesting either their inclusion in the Contractual Employee Service Security Act 2024 or an adjustment of their salaries to be on par with those working under NHM and SSA. One of the employees, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “Including us in the act would not impose any financial burden on the state government, as the salaries for these positions are provided by the central government to the state government, as per the approval letter from the Haryana Finance Department.”
Government’s Stance:
An official from the Department of Elementary Education commented, “The cabinet has taken the decision, and the affected employees must lodge their grievances with the government.” This response has done little to assuage the concerns of the excluded employees, who feel that their long years of service are being disregarded.
Overview of the Act:
The Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Tenure) Ordinance 2024 is designed to provide enhanced facilities and job security for approximately 1.2 lakh contractual employees across the state. The ordinance covers employees under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) and those engaged under the outsourcing policy.
Key provisions of the ordinance include:
- Eligibility: Contractual employees must have completed five years of service by August 15, 2024.
- Salary: Eligible employees will receive a basic salary equivalent to the pay scale of their posts.
- Annual Increment: Consolidated monthly remuneration will be increased every year on the first day of January and July, in line with the increase in dearness allowance.
- Exclusions: The stipulations of the ordinance will not cover employees earning more than ₹50,000 per month or those working under centrally sponsored schemes.
Looking Ahead:
As the affected employees continue to voice their concerns, the Haryana government faces growing pressure to address the exclusion and ensure that all contractual workers, including those under the mid-day meal scheme, receive fair treatment and job security. The outcome of this issue could set a precedent for how contractual employees across different schemes are treated in the future.
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