The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : State Government employees to stage dharna on September 15

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 04, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

State Government employees to stage dharna on September 15

Staff Reporter

Gopal Reddy Pay Commission will not solve problems, says association

BANGALORE: Members of the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association will stage a dharna on September 15 and strike work on September 29 along with employees of the Union Government, banks, insurance sectors and members of trade unions demanding that a 19-point charter of demands submitted to Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh some time ago be fulfilled.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, association President U.D. Narasimhaiah and General Secretary B.S. Sachidananda Murthy alleged that the Chief Minister, who had promised that he will invite the leaders of the association for talks on its demand, has set up Gopal Reddy Pay Commission.

This will not solve the problems. The commission is yet to start its work, the association leaders said.

They said the Centre and the State Government have been adopting policies detrimental to the interests of employees.

Seeking withdrawal of the decision of privatising the pension scheme, they said it has become inevitable for the employees to resort to confrontation with the Government, the leaders said.

Anomalies in salary

They said the State Government has not set right the anomalies in salary while other States have merged 50 per cent of dearness allowance with the basic pay.

Mr. Murthy and Mr. Narasimhaiah sought to know why the Government did not set up a pay commission before enhancing the salary and perks of legislators? They alleged that the Government is harassing employees with such tactics. However, there seems to be a ray of hope with Finance Minister P.G.R. Sindhia agreeing to convene a meeting of the association leaders.

Gap widening

They said the gap between the salary of employees of the Union and the State governments is widening. The State Government employees are forced to bear the burden of increasing prices of essential commodities.

The State Government, which has mobilised Rs. 3,000 crores more through value-added tax (VAT) and the Excise Duty, has no problem in implementing the demands of the employees, they said.

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