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| Secretariat employees threaten agitation, govt wants talks | | Stalemate persists: Strike enters 4th day | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Mar 12: With the State Government employees strike entering fourth straight day today, the Civil Secretariat non-gazetted employees today hinted to join the crusade if the genuine issues of the employees are not redressed soon.
The State Government invited the striking employees' leaders for talks and it constituted a Cabinet Sub Committee for the purpose here this evening.
"Still no such decision have been contemplated so far, but a meeting in this regard is very much on cards on Monday, as Saturday and Sunday are off days," said Nazir Ahmed Mir, president, Civil Secretariat Non Gazetted Employees Union said.
He alleged that as the budget presented by the Minister for Finance did not pay any attention on the problems being faced by the employees, they (employees) felt that they have been ditched by the government.
He further alleged that till last midnight assurances were given by Finance Minister that something favorable to employees would be provided in the budget, but after opening cards close to its chest, budget proved to "discriminatory" one for the employees.
Expressing discontent over the budget, he accused the government of ditching the entire employees' community by not keeping its word.
Nazir said, "If budget could be favorable to agriculturists, industrialists and sections of society then why not for employees. At the time when there was no arrangement of funds for Sixth Pay Commission state government arranged funds to fulfill the aspiration of employees."
He also expressed dissatisfaction over sidelining of other demands of employees including enhancing of age limit of retirement to 60 years. He said that in 21 states of country age has been enhanced besides last year about 20,000 employees have retired of which government has itself accepted and employed equal number of candidates and are going to fill more 20,000 thousand vacancies in the coming year.
He urged upon the Chief Minister to take the cognizance to pacify the situation, otherwise, employees would be left with no other choice than to come on roads.
Nazir said that if Finance Minister threatens employees of consequences, employees too have strength to fight as when in competition rivals of two sides are equipped with power upto their strength, therefore, one party should not take other one for granted. When asked will they join hands with striking employees if demands not met, he replied that core committee is meeting in a day or two to decide further course of action.
He said that since the grim situation is shaping up regarding the impediments coming up in implementation of 6th pay commission provisions for the state employees, secretariat non gazetted employees too have started thinking over it seriously.
Earlier, while presenting the annual budget 2010-2011 in the Legislative Assembly, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather said, "The requirement of funds to clear the arrears comes to over Rs4000 crore. The demand for allocation of this amount had been projected to the 13th Finance Commission and if this amount is made available to the government in one go, the government would release 100 per cent arrears in cash."
"The state governments are consequently bound to improve their own resources and to cut their non plan expenditure. Any increases in expenditure such as incremental growth in salary expenditure, additional DA installments, office expenses and other establishment costs etc have to be fully matched by improvements in their own tax and non tax revenues," he maintained.
He appealed to the government employees who have been resorting to frequent strikes on this issue to understand the position with the same clarity. "No amount of strikes or agitations can generate resources. Either we get the requisite additional funds in near future or we sit across together and mutually look into any practicable alternatives," he maintained.
He made fervent appeal to striking appeal to resume their duties, saying the Government is committed to resolve their issues.
Meanwhile situation in all government offices, hospitals and educational institutions across the state remained paralyzed with employees' strike entering its penultimate day today.
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