Don’t get surprised if you see burning of Ravan during the festival night of Diwali. State Employees’ Joint Council Uttarakhand (SEJCU), who has been sitting in protest since October 17, has decided to celebrate Dusshera by burning effigy of State Government in place of Diwali.
The Government employees of various departments under the banner of SEJCU have been protesting for last twelve days in support of their pending demands and have decided to continue their protest unless and until their demands are accepted by the State.
A large section of women employees are also protesting in the ongoing strike in support of their demands including removal of pay anomalies among State Government employees, timely promotions, fixing the age limit for State employees at 62 years and many others.
As the whole nation is busy in the preparation of most celebrated festival of the nation Diwali, these women employees have decided to celebrate Dussehra on the occasion of Diwali by burning the effigy of the State Government.
Anju Badola, Supervisor Integrated ChildDevelopment Society ICDS and General Secretary of the Association, said that though Diwali is the most significant festival of Hindu’s but we are not going to celebrate it this time.
She added that generally there is tradition of remembering Goddess laxmi on the occasion of Diwali but when there is no value of women employee in the society, whose demands are ignored consistently, what’s the use of celebration.
Echoing similar sentiments, Renu lamba, Trejarar of the Association, said that even the women employees are not given preference in this Congress-led Government. Our demands are ignored consistently by the government then what’s the use of Diwali celebration.
Pushpa Sharma, Trezarar of the Association, said that we are going to stay here in the parade ground itself on the festival day too and continue our strike if our demands are not met with.