Jind: Haryana patwaris and kanungos continued their strike for the eighth day on Thursday as talks with the revenue department and director land records (DLR) Yashpal Yadav in Chandigarh failed to break the deadlock.Despite the govt’s Aug 25 warning that patwaris serving their probation period could be terminated and revenue officials over 50 could face compulsory retirement, the protesting employees have decided to continue their agitation.With the strike continuing, all revenue-related work at tehsils across Haryana remains stalled, causing inconvenience to the public.The Haryana Patwari and Kanungo Association is protesting the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) system and changes made to the portal system for mutations and other revenue-related work.Revenue officials said the govt’s new portal was causing difficulties for the public. While mutation earlier required just three-four pages, the new system involves nearly 10 times more paperwork.They also alleged that the portal often fails to properly display the name of the person in whose favour the mutation is registered, resulting in people repeatedly visiting tehsil offices for correction.The employees demanded that the Digital Crop Survey should be outsourced to an external agency, as reportedly done in several states, instead of assigning it to patwaris. They said patwaris have to enter waterlogged paddy fields with digital devices and remain there until the device gives a green signal, making the task difficult.According to the association district president Survesh, a single patwari is responsible for thousands of acres across villages. He questioned how can one patwari manage routine tehsil duties as well as the additional responsibility of the survey.Sarveshsaid the govt is putting unnecessary pressure on patwaris and urged the govt to engage an agency for the task. He added that the strike would continue until their demands are addressed.District assistant secretary of the association, Poonam, said the patwaris’ demands are in the interest of the public. She urged the govt to take cognisance of the issue and resolve the problems.
