Employees are on warpath again. They have stuck to their decision to carry on with the strike and protests. They claim that state government has ditched them as it has not enhanced the retirement age from 58-yrs to 60-yrs despite it entering into an agreement with them. The employees’ unions are calling shots these days due to which work in the government offices has been paralyzed.
This has hit the common man. Offices wearing deserted look has left the common man high and dry. He doesn’t know what to do and whom to approach. Employees’ agitation started in the Valley soon after the Civil Secretariat reopened in the summer capital in May this year. When Durbar was in Jammu, employees’ union preferred to adopt wait and watch strategy. They were hoping that decision on the retirement age would be taken before Durbar shifts to Srinagar but their hopes were dashed as nothing happened.    
It is sad to see employees hitting the streets and getting beaten by men in Khaki. It really hurts as they don’t deserve such a shabby treatment, but on the other hand they also need to realize that for a common Kashmiri, May to October are very crucial months as most of the works get done during this period. Their demand of enhancing the retirement age is debatable but common man suffering due to their demands cannot be justified.
People who are enjoying power watching developments as mute spectators is quite disheartening. It seems neither the employees nor the politicians are bothered about what common man faces. It is despite the fact that politicians and the employees survive on tax payers’ money.
Abandoning work and responsibility are slowly becoming a part of our administrative system. It is not a good omen and can have far reaching consequences.
One fails to understand why the government is trying to reach out its own employees’ only through force; why no effort is being put to break the ice. Some people believe that a few of the top employees’ union leaders are retiring in coming months that is why government is silent over the issue as it wants to get rid of them. While others feel that government is in a dilemma. If it enhances the retirement age there is every possibility of unemployed youth remaining unemployed for a few more years.
There has to be a midway. The government and its employees should sit on the negotiating table and try to find a way out rather than turning their backs towards each other. Rigidity won’t help either of the sides. Announcing protest calendars and government not paying much attention towards these indicates that J&K is heading towards an administrative failure.
If government really wants to enhance the retirement age then it should come clear on the issue rather than beating round the bush. If government has decided otherwise then why is it not announcing the decision?
The ongoing employees’ agitation and government sleeping over the issue is making common man lose faith over entire system and is making his belief firm that he is not a part of the system. If employees really want to express resentment against the government’s failure to fulfill its promises and want that common man should not suffer they should allow offices to function rather than locking them. There are many ways of registering protest. The best way could have been to stay in the offices and help the common man but on the other hand they could have ensured that they boycott top bureaucrats and politicians whom they believe are the biggest hurdles. No top official or a minister can work without the help of his subordinate staff, if the same staff boycotts them they would be left with no other option other than calling them for talks.

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Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST