Bhubaneswar, March 13 -- In a bid to woo voters ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the Odisha government is announcing many free schemes and hiking salaries, pensions, and allowances of government employees on a daily basis ahead of the poll model code of conduct.

After announcing a hike of nearly four times in the remuneration of Sarpanchs, the State government hiked the same for Mayors of municipal corporations from Rs 8,000 to Rs 50,000. Meanwhile, considering it to be an opportune moment, several unions in the State have been staging protests at the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar demanding salary hikes and other benefits.

A day before, the government hiked the remuneration and other benefits of Panchayati Raj representatives in the Stat...