A four-day State-level convention of group C employees of the Department of Posts, organised by the All India Postal Employees Union, Mandya Division, commenced here on Sunday.

D.C. Thammanna, MLA, Maddur constituency, inaugurated the 29th edition of the event at Gayathri Bhavan here.

He urged the Union government to increase the wages of Gramin Dak Sevaks, part-time employees working in rural areas, and also to provide social security benefits.

The remuneration/salary of postal employees working in rural areas is just around Rs. 6,000, he said.

Mr. Thammanna said that he would support their protests (if they organise) against not hiking salary or for demanding other benefits.

K.T. Srikante Gowda, MLC, recollected the role that the Department of Posts played.

The department is also losing its importance nowadays because of the revolutionary changes/development in the technology sector, he added.

The postal employees across the State are participating in the convention. According to sources at the Mandya division, the participants will discuss various issues including the ill-effects of the privatisation of postal services and the challenges being faced by the employees.

They will also chalk out programmes to urge the Union government for their pending demands.

A souvenir was released on the occasion. The valedictory ceremony will be held on July 6.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com