With just a few days left for Diwali and Chhath festivals, members of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Workers Association have gone on an indefinite strike demanding fulfillment of the seventh pay commission norms, appointment of more staff members and clearance of arrears.
Halting all essential services more than 300 workers are supporting the strike which started on October 22. The strike however, does not include the cleaning staff of RMC.“The workers have gone on a strike regarding the seventh pay commission norms. Till the time RMC does not get approval for 70 per cent from the government and 30 per cent from the board, the body cannot make payments for the seventh pay commission.
RMC held a board meeting on October 23 in which a proposal for the 30 per cent to be approved by the board members was made,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner RMC Girja Shankar Prasad.
According to the official, workers cannot be stopped from holding a strike and with two major festivals coming up the civic body is trying to sort the matter. More than 300 permanent staff members of the civic body are a part of the strike, which does not include the cleaning staff.
“If the board approves of the 30 per cent commission then the matter will be taken to the Government for further approval.
In the meantime garbage collection and regular cleaning work around the City will continue as usual,” said Prasad. Due to the strike, services like issue of birth and death certificates, issue of holding tax receipts and land mutation certificates, water connection and architecture and engineering branch have been hampered.
“If the workers do not get back to work at the earliest other staff members will be asked to take their place for issuing the required documents,” added the RMC official.