SRINAGAR, JULY 21: The Secretariat employees today held a protest march in the Lawns of the Civil secretariat and raised slogans against the Government. The protest was organised to record dissatisfaction with the Government over its refusal to address genuine demands of the employees.
Shri, Thannaji Bhat, General, Secretary, Shri Muzafar Nabi, Secretary, Mohammad Afzal, General Secy, JKCSLGEU Maqbool Hussain, President JKCSLGEU and Ghulam Rasool Mir President JKCSNGEU addressed the employees on the occasion.
Speaking in the occassion, Chairman, J&K Civil Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee, Mr Ghulam Rasool Mir said that the Government, it seems has gone in sleeping mode. He said that Hon’ble Ministers have put the directions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister with regard to resolution of pending issues of the employees on shelf, with no progress in sight.
He demanded that Government should finalise Pay anomaly and undertake cadre review immediately besides implement the 7th Pay commission. He further added that bureaucrats sitting in the power corridors have been adopted delaying tactics to kill time only. He said Hon’ble Minister’s have posted outsiders in their Personal Sections and thereby encouraged attachments in the Civil Secretariat and created indiscipline and mess that is adversely affecting the working and functioning of the Civil Secretariat. He demanded immediate revocation of such attachment orders otherwise employees would be forced to lock such sections/offices.
With regard to delay in construction of government quarter, he said that apparently there is some nexus between government and the hoteliers resulting in delay in construction of quarters for employees even after directions given by the Hon’ble Chief Minister for taking up the construction work at the earliest. He said there are hundreds of quarters occupied by influencial persons connected to Ministers and bureaucrats who neither pay any rent to the Estates Department nor is any HRA deducted from their salaries. On the issue of canteen , he said the Employees had requested the Government to close JKTDC canteen within the premises of Civil Secretariat and establish canteen on open tender basis as present canteen is sucking blood of the Employees. He said while Ministers and beaurucrates are enjoying free tea and refreshments from Governmnet exchequer besides other facilities, employees are left to suffer and not provided even the basic accomodation facilities.
All the employees were requested to prepare themselves for a big struggle, if the genuine demands of employees are not addressed on priority and on fast track basis. It was informed that a suitable protest programme and strategy would be chalked out and conveyed to the employees shortly after discussions/ deliberation of Coordination Committee.