Employees at iconic Geeta Press cry exploitation

GORAKHPUR: For about a century now the flagship has passed on to new generations the essence of ancient scriptures and the virtues of humanity and religion through their publications. Ironically, employees of the Gita Press, which functions on a no-profit-no-loss model, are complaining of exploitation at the hands of the management.
A large number of employees assembled at Gita Press on Tuesday and raised slogans against the management and demanded hike in salary and other benefits as per labour laws.Raman Srivastava, a permanent employee, leading the demonstration said, “Gita Press spreads the message of truth, humanity and religion around the world with its publications and on the other hand, it is exploiting us.
We are working under extremely difficult conditions as only 180 employees out of 500 are permanent. The ad hoc employees cannot claim compensation or facilities. On a salary of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000, it has become difficult for us to survive. We don’t get pay slip or receipt and attendance card. There are no uniform rules as they give double overtime to some employees and single to others. We demand double overtime for all employees.”
On Monday, Ramayan Bhawan, a production unit where ‘Ramayan’ is published, was closed. The press manager and trustee denied it and claim that everything is fine in the press. Among 500 employees, only 180 are permanent. Workers are struggling with low wages. Trustee of the organisation is not willing to increase the wages beyond a certain level. The management is busy with preparations to welcome the governor, who is coming to Gorakhnath Temple on Wednesday. The striking employees are also planning to meet the governor and give him a memorandum regarding wage issue.
He added, “We went to high court in 1992 and on December 23, 2010. The court issued a verdict in our favour and advised press management to give salary to employees as per norms. After that, the management hiked the salary though not as per the GO, but they are not following it.”
A demonstration by hundreds of employees was staged on December 3. They were demanding 20% housing allowance, 10% annual increase in salary on the lines of Gita Bhawan, Rishikesh.
Gita Press manager Lal Mani Tripathi said: “Work is in progress inside the press and no unit is closed. Work in Ramayan Bhawan is going on as usual and we are tying to resolve the issue.”
Trustee Devi Dayal said, “Gita Press is running smoothly and 80% employees are at work. Some outsiders are trying to spoil the environment . The representatives of the employees came to us and we gave our offer for hike in salary and they even agreed to it but later they started protesting. We are giving more than the minimum wage level and more than in other factories in the area.
About Ramayan Bhawan, he said it is a rumour that work has stopped there.
Convener of Mazdoor Morcha, Gorakhpur, Ram Murti said: “Gita Press is a religious place presumed to be working on ‘no profit no loss’ basis but the fact is just the opposite. They are exploiting the employees and the demands of Gita Press employees are justified so we support them. We condemn the attitude of the management. The workers are being exploited.”