Karnataka - Bijapur   

Examination held as scheduled despite Government staff strike

Staff Correspondent

Employees apply casual leaveen masse; rival union says strike was unnecessary

SEEKING BENEFITS: Government employees taking out a procession in Bijapur on Thursday.

BIJAPUR: Work in government offices, particularly revenue and education, was affected in Bijapur on Thursday following the strike by members of Karnataka State Government Employees Association. However, examination in government high schools and pre-university colleges went according to schedule.

First year pre-university students appeared for the annual examination in Political Science, Biology and Computer Science papers. After examination hours, many teachers chose to express their solidarity with the striking employees and participated in a procession in the city.

Employees applied for casual leave en masse and gathered outside the Deputy Commissioner's office. District unit president of the association S.B. Patil and general secretary G.R. Sheelvant urged the Government to concede their demands, including merger of 50 per cent of dearness allowances with basic pay.

G.K. Patil, MLC, said he will fight for their cause.

Vehicular traffic was disrupted when the employees took out a procession.

Unaffected

However, work in departments such as Regional Transport, Health, Irrigation, Agriculture, Horticulture, Public Works and Minor Irrigation remained largely unaffected as the employees owing allegiance to Karnataka State Government Employees Federation did not participate in the strike.

District unit president of the federation Rajendra Khavi in statement here said the rival union has adopted its (federation) demands now. The strike was unnecessary as the new coalition Government has stated that the employees' demands will be considered sympathetically, he said.

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Examination held as scheduled despite Government staff strike

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