Hundreds of Velugu Village Organisation Assistants (VOAs) staged a protest at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on Monday, December 16, demanding the NDA government to fulfil its poll promise and withdraw the termination circular issued by the YSRCP government. The controversial circular orders termination of VOAs upon completion of 45 years of age, which has drawn widespread criticism.
VOAs’ Demands
Speaking at the protest, Velugu VOAs (Animators) Employees’ Union State general secretary K. Dhana Lakshmi emphasized the need to reinstate those who have already been removed from their duties. She highlighted that the VOAs’ workload has been increasing significantly, causing immense stress among the workers.
The key demands raised by the VOAs include:
- Withdrawal of the termination circular immediately.
- Reinstatement of terminated VOAs.
- Timely payment of pending dues.
- Reduction in work pressure to ensure fair working conditions.
- Adherence to court-issued stay orders against illegal terminations.
VOAs’ Role and Struggles
VOAs play a crucial role in implementing the Velugu program, designed to improve rural livelihoods. However, many VOAs feel neglected and overburdened, as their working hours continue to rise without adequate compensation.
The protest at Dharna Chowk reflects their frustration over unmet promises and perceived injustice. The demonstrators called on the NDA government to intervene and fulfil their commitments made during the elections.
Conclusion
As the VOAs’ agitation intensifies, their demands have brought attention to the challenges faced by rural development workers in Andhra Pradesh. Whether the government will address their grievances remains to be seen, but the pressure from VOAs is likely to escalate if their concerns are not resolved soon.
