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| Situation turns chaotic, strike paralyses work | | Employees' agitation enters third day | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 11: Situation in all government offices, hospitals and educational institutions across the State became chaotic with employees' strike entering its third consecutive day today. The strike badly affected the normal functioning in government offices where employees' presence virtually remained negligible.
Much to the common man's chagrin, ongoing stalemate between government and employees continued to persist for third straight day as the administration made no "sincere" efforts to initiate negotiation with striking employees.
In the meantime, the employees' agitation got new impetus when another faction of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) started its three-day-long here today. However, the Civil Secretariat employees did not participate in the strike and attended their offices as usual.
Reports from most of tehsils and districts headquarters said that strike was observed in hospitals, educational institutes, government offices, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Corporations.
Even as the authorities grappled with a crippled administration, teachers employed by the state added to the woes by striking work in solidarity, forcing the closure of all government schools. Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohammad Syed, however, warned of "stern action" against the teachers, calling their strike "irresponsible" and "callous".
"We cannot allow the teachers to play with the careers of our children. The government has taken serious note of their strike. Stern action will be taken against them," the Minister maintained.
Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of all several employees association along with some factions of EJAC has called for five days strike in support of their demands.
The employees have been demanding payment of arrears of sixth Pay Commission, release of COLA, increase in the retirement age from 58 years to 60 years and regularisation of daily wagers, contractual and others working in different government departments, uniform HRA to state government employees and removal of pay anomalies of clerical cadre and other cadres.
Reports said, "Though emergency facilities were being provided, the healthcare system across the state was badly hit with Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) in Government Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Jammu and other hospitals remaining non-functional".
Employees' associations staged protest demonstrations and took out rallies here in the winter capital and district headquarters and sub-divisions in the state. They also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in protest against the alleged step-motherly treatment.
"The strike was complete in all the three regions of the state. The strike would be intensified if our demands are not met before March 13," Ram Kumar Sharma, EJAC leader said.
"The work in all departments got paralysed and in Jammu city, employees staged protest at Panama Chowk, Government Medical College and Hospital, Agricultural and Horticulture Department and other places. We would be forced to announce indefinite strike in the State if they fail to respond to this strike. Government should take us seriously," he said.
He disclosed that employees would hold protest at Panama Chowk, GMCH Jammu and GGM Science College tomorrow.
"Chief Minister Omar Abdullah maintains he does not have money to pay the Sixth Pay Commission arrears. Why did he hike his ministers' and legislators' pay just a week ago. This is injustice," a JCC leader said.
The JCC is demanding release of Pay Commission arrears, increase in retirement age, enhancement of wages of daily-rated, temporary, adhoc and contractual employees, enhancement of 20 per cent house rent allowance and removal of pay anomalies among others.
The total annual wage bill of the state government is Rs 4000 crore before the implementation of the latest Pay Commission recommendations.
"The government needs financial support from the central government to pay the arrears. We have taken up the matter with the central government. This will take some time. The arrears cannot be paid overnight," an officer of the state finance department said.
"The enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 will result in stoppage of recruitments in government departments for two years, which will add to the problems of thousands of qualified, unemployed youth. All these factors have to be seriously weighed before a decision is taken on this issue," the officer said.
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