In view of the recent decision of the State Government of discontinuing reservation in promotions for SC-ST employees, the members of Uttarakhand SC-ST Employees Federation said that they will go on strike from next month. The union of sanitation workers will also support the strike by the federation.
During a meeting of the federation and sanitation workers union on Saturday, the union members decided to join the protest. The union is demanding minimum wages, health insurance and discontinuation of outsourcing.
They were assured by the federation that until the Government would not accept the demands of sanitation workers, the SC-ST employees would not return to their work.
Addressing the media, the federation head Karam Ram said that the State Government has taken the decision of discontinuing reservations in promotions in a hurry and under pressure neglecting the rules of the constitution for SC-ST employees.
Accusing the government of being biased against SC-ST community, Ram stated that members of General-OBC Employees Association have made insulting remarks against SC-ST employees in public but still no action was taken against them under SC-ST Act.
“When hundreds of General-OBC Employees protested at Parade Ground in spite of the orders of district administration prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, police did not detain any of them.
However, when few of our members protested against the government on Thursday, the police immediately detained them,” he said.Talking about the planned strike of SC-ST employees, Ram said, “The federation will give a memorandum to the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat explaining out demands and issues.
We will give the government time to think about our demands and will wait till April 15.
If we do not receive any positive response from the government by April 15, the members of SC-ST and genuine OBCs will begin the strike from April 16.”
The members of sanitation workers association also alleged that the Government never pays attention to the sanitation workers who keep the whole nation clean and if the Government does not accept their demands,they will go on strike and no sanitation work will be done across the State by any worker