Bhubanewar, March 5: The state-level Panchayat Raj Divas Samaroh today witnessed noisy scenes with zilla parishad and panchayat members causing a ruckus demanding salary hike.

The grassroots level representatives were angry that while MLAs and ministers had recently received a salary hike, nobody spared a thought for them.

The sudden outburst came after senior BJD leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra had urged Naveen to hike salaries of the zilla parishad members by 50 per cent and create a fund of Rs 1 crore for the zilla parishad.

As soon as Mohapatra’s speech came to an end, zilla parishad members, led by Nabarnagpur zilla parishad member Motilal Hans (52), rushed to the front rows and protested.

Hans said: “While the MLAs will now get a salary of Rs 61,000, the zilla parishad members get only Rs 1,500. The zilla parishad members should get Rs 15,000 as salary and pension.”

Hans added: “I am a BJD worker. We are upset over the government’s move to hike only MLAs’ salaries.”

Reacting to the hike, members cutting across party lines, came in support of their demands for a salary hike for panchayat representatives. Basudev Pradhan (61), a sarpanch from Baragarh block, also reacted.

“We are the people’s representatives at the grassroots level. How can we survive at Rs 1,000 only? The sarpanch’s allowance should be hiked to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000,” he said.

A palli sabha president gets an honorarium of Rs 30 per month, panchayati samiti member gets Rs 1,000, sarpanch, zilla parishad member and zilla parishad chairman get Rs 1,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 4,500, respectively.

The members of zilla parishad at Puri today observed it as a Black Day. Orissa State Panchayati Parishad president and Puri Zilla Parishad president Shankarshan Parida said: “Apart from the salary hike, the government should also entrust more powers to the panchayati raj representatives.”

On the other hand, speaking on the occasion panchayati raj minister Prafulla Samal said: “A section of PRI members at the behest of their political bosses tried to create disturbance. However, the state government would take steps to fulfil their demands. As the Assembly session is going on, it would not be proper to announce any new decision.”

Naveen said steps would be taken to strengthen the panchayati raj system in the state. Naveen also released publications such as Utakl Prasang, Orissa Review, Panhcyat Samachar, Panchayat Sahayika Pustika and Meghdoot, a postcard of the postal department.