The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a major relief package for panchayat assistants, raising their monthly honorarium from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000. The decision, taken after discussions with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, directly impacts more than 57,000 assistants across the state.
The announcement followed a large sit in protest in Lucknow that began on 7 September. The government has agreed to several demands: reinstatement of those removed during the agitation, maternity leave for women assistants, and cashless healthcare facilities for them and their families. Salaries, which were often delayed by six to seven months, will now be transferred directly into assistants’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer, ending the earlier system where payments were routed via village heads.
To prevent arbitrary dismissals, the government has introduced a safeguard. Panchayat secretaries or village heads can no longer remove assistants on their own. Any termination will now require an inquiry by a committee led by the district magistrate.
Cases filed against assistants during the protests will be withdrawn, and those dismissed during the agitation will be reinstated. The state government also confirmed that salaries will be paid on time, ensuring financial stability for the workforce.
Officials reported that once the announcements were made, the protesting assistants expressed relief, ended their demonstration at Eco Garden, Lucknow and returned home. The package marks a significant step in strengthening social security and workplace protections for grassroots employees, while addressing long standing grievances that had triggered the statewide protest.
