Bhubaneswar, August 04 (Odisha.in) Government employees are on war path in Orissa, with two biggest employees association holding protest rallies since Friday to press for their demands.
The government had recently announced to constitute a high level committee to set right the anomalies created following the 5th pay commission, within three months.
But Orissa Karmachari Sangram Samiti (OKSS) which commands the loyalty of around six lakh employees and the Orissa Secretariat Employees Federation took out the rallies separately during the lunch break Friday and demanded that the state government should fulfil their demands immediately.
The leaders also submitted memorandums separately to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“This the first phase of the agitation to warn the government.
If the demands are not fulfilled by the end of this month OKSS would organise state-wide demonstration and indefinite strike the leaders threatened while addressing the rally held in the premises of the Heads of the Department.
Similarly the Orissa Secretariat Employees federation with membership of about fifteen thousand held meeting in the office premises and announced that if the state government would not fulfill the demands, which are genuine, soon the work in the seat of power-the secretariat would be crippled.
The charter of demands of both the employees organisation containing over fifteen points , include- raising retirement age from existing 58 to 60 years , reintroduction of surrender leave system, rehabilitation of the next kin of the deceased employees, inclusion of 50 per cent of Dearness Allowances in the basic pay and filling up all vacancies, putting a stop to all retrenchments.
So far 20 states have already raised the retirement age of their employees to 60 years, while the Sixth pay commission had recommended the retirement age at 62.
But the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik continue his gimmick of giving assurances to fulfill the demands including the raising of retirement age since his assuming office in 2000, lamented the Sarat Chandra Mallia,General secretary of OKSS.
Meanwhile the Orissa employes cordination committee, whichrefrained form agitation discussed with the Chief Minsiter in an attempt to nutralise the scheduled rally of the opposite organisations.
Odisha.in