Srinagar, Aug 6: Intensifying its agitation against the government, a state level employees’ body Saturday called for march to Civil Secretariat here on September 8 to protest for release of their arrears and fulfilment of other demands. The 4.5 lakh employees work force represented by Joint Consultative Committee, a conglomerate of different employees associations across the state, will observe complete pen down strike on September 6, 7 and 8.
“There will be a complete pen down strike on September 6, 7 and 8,” JCC member Abdul Qayoom Wani told a press conference here today on the final day of 2-day pen down strike observed by employees which badly affected the work in government offices.
Wani asked state government employees from all three regions of the state to march to Srinagar on September 8 and assemble at Pratap Park wherefrom they will take a procession to Civil Secretariat to seek fulfilment of their demands.
JCC is demanding revisit by the government on roadmap for release of arrears due to employees since January 2006, enhancement in retirement age to 60 years from the present 58 and regularisation of all daily wagers.
“We do not want any confrontation with the government but they are forcing us to take extreme step. Let government take some tangible steps, we are ready for concrete talks,” said Wani, flanked by other JCC members including Khursheed Alam.
Wani, who is also president of Employees Joint Action Committee (Q), sought personal intervention by chief minister Omar Abdullah in solving employees’ problems.
“We are tired of hollow promises and we ask chief minister and his government to show seriousness. Otherwise the employees will come on the roads and onus will lie on the government,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Khursheed Alam said the situation is taking a “serious turn due to government’s irresponsible attitude.”
He said on February 22, 2009 government entered into an agreement with the employees for releasing there arrears and meeting their other demands.
“Government has itself shelved the roadmap for arrears. We want it should be revisited,” said Alam, who is also president of EJAC (K).
Government, Alam said, passed a law to regularize adhoc and contractual appointees but there is no progress. He said nobody is listening to the contractual lecturers who are on “fast unto death” at press enclave here for past many days.
“Government is backtracking from all agreements made with its employees. We will call for intensified agitation against government for our rights. Government is unmoved,” Wani said.
He accused that bureaucracy was sabotaging the agreement reached between the political leadership and employees.
In response to a question, the JCC members alleged that government wants to draw a political mileage out of employees’ problems. “They want to drag the issue to next elections and cash it for vote bank politics. We will not let employees suffer,” they said.
Responding to another question on assertion by some ministers to invoke ESMA against employees, they said, “All tough laws are in vogue in JK. We have AFSPA, Disturbed Area Act. But employees will not be scared.”
Meanwhile, the state-wide pen down strike called by JCC evoked almost complete response.
The essential services including emergency services in hospitals had been exempted from the strike.
Scores of employees gathered in the premises of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Office here and staged a sit-in for around two hours amidst slogans against the Government and in favour of their demands.
Similar protests were held in the premises of Directorates of Agriculture and Handicrafts here.
Scores of employees of Baramulla district took out a protest march on Saturday. The protesters were headed by Muhammad Rafiq Rather and Arshad Mehmood.
The protesting employees later submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Baramulla who ensured them that their demands will be conveyed to the higher ups.
 In Pulwama, employees took out a rally from Town Hall to DC Office where a memorandum was presented to chief planning officer. The rally was lead by EJAC and JCC leaders including Fayaz Andrabi and Aftab Andrabi.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST