Deori Municipality Employee Alleges Discrimination in Salary Hike and Gratuity

Employee Accuses Municipality of Discrimination in Salary and Gratuity Payments

Anisha Qureshi, a female employee at the Deori Municipality in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, has appealed to the Chief Minister and the State Women's Commission regarding alleged discrimination in her dearness allowance (DA) and delays in her gratuity payment. Qureshi, who is set to retire on July 31, 2026, at the age of 62, claims she is being mentally harassed by some municipal staff who are misleading officials to withhold her rightful dues.

Working as a Community Organizer on contract since November 1999, Qureshi stated in her complaint that she is currently receiving a 38 percent dearness allowance, while other municipal employees are receiving 58 percent. According to an order from the General Administration Department of the Madhya Pradesh government dated July 22, 2023, contractual employees are entitled to gratuity upon completing 62 years of age. The delay in this payment and the reduction in her dearness allowance are causing her financial hardship as her retirement approaches.

Allegations of Harassment by Colleagues

Anisha Qureshi has leveled serious accusations against Gajendra Singh Lodhi, the in-charge of the municipality's establishment branch, and his assistant Narendra Kumar Dixit, alleging they have been mentally tormenting her for several months. She claims these two officials are providing false information to mislead the authorities, preventing her from receiving her due payments.

In response to this serious matter, Anisha Qureshi submitted a written complaint on Monday, urging immediate intervention from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chairperson of the State Women's Commission, and other relevant officials.