Striking employees hold demonstration

SRINAGAR, July 23: Work in government and semi-government offices in the state was paralyzed today in view of strike by employees. Demanding the fulfillment of their 'genuine' demands at the earliest, the employees observed a lock-out and stayed away from their duties.
The strike call evoked total response almost all the departments. Even the impact was very much visible in Civil Secretariat, Public Service Commission, Service Selection Board, Competent Authority and Entrance Examination.
Amid a complete strike that paralyzed work in government, semi-government offices and corporations in Jammu, the striking employees held a strong protest demonstration led by Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) president, Ram Kumar Sharma and Parvin Kumar at press club Jammu.
Chanting slogans against the government for causing 'delay' in fulfilling demands of the employees, the protestors staged a sit-in for hours. They alleged that the government was intimidating the employees to resort to protests by causing unnecessary delay in fulfilling the demands.
Under the banner of J and K Civil Secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees Union, the employees of all the departments of civil secretariat held a protest demonstration in support of their demands in the lawns of civil secretariat. The striking employees also held protests at Handwara.
Reports said that the employees stayed away from their duties at Ladakh and Kargil and the observed a lock out.
Today's strike was observed in response to the call given by Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) and in lieu of decision jointly taken by Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and Sub Cabinet Committee.
It may be recalled here that the state employees held protests in support of their demands from 11 A M to 1 PM last day.
EJAC and its constituent organizations spearheading the state employees' agitation have strongly reacted to the statement of Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather that the employees strike was unconstitutional and illegitimate.
Chairman EJAC, Abdul Qayoom Wani told Kashmir Times that the employees have been deprived of Drabu and S L Bhat committees' recommendation on sixth pay commission and instead the government has deceived employees by issuing SRO 93, 94 and 95.
"In the SROs, there is no mention of release of arrears in cash since 2006, the five and 10 per cent HRA also remains unchanged and it also does not make a mention of DA instead of COLA. The SROs also does not cover two years extension in retirement age, increase in salaries of employees appointed in 2006 and some other demands," he said adding that employees will be forced to intensify protests, if the government did not consider the demands of employees.
Qayoom Wani said that the Joint Consultation Committee (JCC) will meet before July 30 and the strike programme will start in first week of August.
"The representatives of employees from all three regions including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir will meet before July 30 and the protest programme is likely to begin in first week of August," said EJAC chairman.
The demands of employees include, release of pending arrears in favour of employees and pensioners since 2006, increase in the age of retirement by two years, removal of disparity in the salaries of employees appointed in 2006, to equal the HRA to that of central government employees, regularization of all daily wagers, adhoc, contractual workers, casual labours and increase in their salaries besides release of 'state share' in favour of helpers, release of DA in stead of COLA in favour of public sector employees and some other demands.
Reports said that patients and attendants suffered immensely following strike by employees at SMHS and SKIMS hospitals here.
Reports said that employees stayed away from duties and observed a lock out at major district headquarters including Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Anantanag, Shopian, Budgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal.
Meanwhile, All Kashmir Public Health Engineering (PHE) federation has appealed PHE minister to intervene and help in releasing their two months pending salaries and save their families from facing starvation like situation.

Employee electrocuted, protests against CRPF
KT NEWS SRVICE
SRINAGAR, July 23: Protests demonstration were held in Bemina area here after a government employee was electrocuted due to the current in razor wire spread by the CRPF. Police has registered a case.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat an employee in PHE was electrocuted while he touched the razor wire spread by CRPF 166 Batallion in Bemina outside their camp. As the news spread people took to streets and held protests demonstrations against the CRPF. The people were alleging that CRPF with out reason has spread the razor wire at a long distance from their camps.Police said that a case has been registered and investigations had been taken up.