30-07-2025
Minister Seethakka issues instructions for equal pay to field assistants
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) has instructed officials to implement equal pay for all 7,111 field assistants currently working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the State by bringing them under one category.
After listening to their grievances at the Secretariat on Wednesday, she also suggested revoking a circular, which led to the dismissal of several field assistants by the previous government. She ordered a detailed probe into the feasibility of reappointing the dismissed field assistants and directed officials to study the issue of converting field assistants into fixed-tenure employees, salary hikes, and other related legal and financial matters.
She also directed officials to ensure the direct crediting of salaries into the accounts of 540 Mandal Computer Centre (MCC) attendants working under the MGNREGS. The Minister announced that transfers would be done as per the field assistants' request and promised to offer group insurance, health insurance and health cards for field assistants.
Ms. Seethakka also said that the proposal for increasing ex gratia from ₹2 lakh to ₹10 lakh for field assistants and handing over mobile phones to field assistants for recording attendance would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting.
