Work in Government offices was negatively affected as members of the Rajya Karmchari Sainyukt Parishad went on an indefinite strike on Thursday.
In support of their 23 demands, about two lakh State government employees in more than 50 departments boycotted work and demonstrated in Dehradun and elsewhere in the State against the State Government. The RKSP State chief Prahlad Singh said that if the Government continues to remain apathetic to their demands, the protesting Government employees will bring the emergency services to a halt in Uttarakhand from October 24.
He further said that the RKSP will take action against any member employee who goes to work during the strike. He stressed that the protest will remain non-violent and no damage will be wreaked upon government property. Singh accused the State Government of observing double standards by providing more than half a dozen promotions to officers and only three to the employees.
"We were quiet so far due to the recent disaster experienced in the State but the Government's continued apathy has forced us to go on strike. The seventh pay commission has been announced but during the past two years the State Government has failed to redress the pay anomalies," he said. Their 23-point demands include the removal of pay anomalies among State Government employees, timely promotions, fixing the age limit for state employees at 62 years and other demands.
The strike by State Government employees could have a detrimental effect on the workings of the State Government which is still struggling to facilitate the desired level of relief and execute reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the disaster-affected areas. Due to Government employees boycotting work, the government offices bore a deserted look while members of the public visiting these offices for getting various tasks done had to return disappointed.