Srinagar, Apr 15: About 4.5 lakh state government employees returned to work in various offices across the state after remaining on strike for 12-days.
The employees proceeded on strike on April 3 demanding release of sixth pay commission arrears and enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. There was hustle and bustle in Divisional Commissioner’s office, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar’s office and offices located in the Old Secretariat Complex.
While employees of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and paramedical staff had resumed work yesterday itself, other offices could not open Wednesday due to holiday on account of Baisakhi.
There was huge rush of patients in Valley’s premier SMHS hospital and SKIMS Soura. Long queues of patients were seen outside OPDs in both the hospitals. “I’ve been waiting for my turn for the past 3-hours, but there is so much of rush here,” said Halima, a patient from Pattan waiting for her turn outside medicine department of SMHS.
The rush of indoor patients had also increased with 12-bed capacity ward-3 full of patients. Similar was the situation in 35-bed capacity ward-18 where not a single bed was vacant. “We have started admitting patients since the strike ended and there is huge rush. It would increase in coming days as most of the people had deferred normal surgeries etc during the strike,” a junior doctor told Greater Kashmir.
In ward-3, the Safai Karamcharis were busy cleaning. “Huge stock of un-cleaned bed sheets has piled up during strike days,” a Safai Karamchari said. There was also rush of medical representatives visiting the hospital. “As doctors were too busy in attending patients during strike days, we were unable to call them. Now the situation has improved,” they said.
In SKIMS Soura there was heavy rush in OPD and patients were in queues waiting for their turn. “Other services have also started functioning since yesterday,” a para-medic said.
The government schools also reopened after a long break. The students were seen rushing towards the schools early morning.
Meanwhile, an official spokesman said work has resumed in all government offices and PSUs across the state. “All offices, including schools and colleges reopened today and the attendance in the offices was cent percent,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports said three officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation have been attached by the administration for defying orders during strike. “Ghulam Qadir Rather, Transport Officer, Muhammad Yousuf Dalal, Chief Sanitation Officer and Hakeem Maqsood Ali, Sanitation Officer have been attached with the office of the Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority,” sources said.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and incharge Commissioner SMC, Me’raj Ahmad Kakroo said they had been attached during strike for different reasons.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST