Thousands of civic staff observing indefinite strike throughout the State will converge in state capital Raipur on July 24 and stage a silent rally in support of their 21-point charter of demands. They will also gherao the chief minister’s residence and submit a memorandum to Dr Raman Singh.
According to employees leaders Suresh Tiwari, Arun Debey, Ajay Verma and others, a meeting of leaders of organisations related to civic body staff and officials was held in Raipur Sunday evening in which leaders of Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh also participated. In the meeting the employees leaders flayed the repressive measures initiated by Raipur Municipal Corporation against the striking employees. In the meeting it was decided to take out a silent rally on july 24 under the leadership of BMS president Satyendra Dubey and general secretary Yogesh Dutt Mishra. The rally will start from dharna site and will reach CM’s residence.
The employees leaders alleged that the administration was issuing notices to civic employees at several places like Dalli Rajahara, Keshkal, Chhuikhadan and other urban bodies asking them to return to work but the employees are adamant to continue their strike until all of their demands including payment of arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission benefits are met.. The employees leaders claimed that they are now getting the support of PHE employees unions besides Class III Employees Association. All these employees will join them from Tuesday onward due to which water supply in the city is likely to be disturbed, they added.
The employees’ leaders said after the silent rally they would meet CM and apprise him of their problems and will also raise their demands including arrears’ payment. It is worth mentioning that Urban Administration and Development Department Minister Amar Agrawal has ruled out payment of any arrears to the striking civic staff. Notably, all the civic staff of the state were on pen down strike of July 15 and took Mass leave on July 16 and 17 and thereafter they are on indefinite strike from July 19.