Bangalore: Defence civilian employees and the Coordination Committee of Defence Civilian Employees, affiliated to the All-India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) staged a dharna here on Tuesday in protest against the failure of the Government in announcing the date of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and the decision to allow private participation in defence production.

Speaking to presspersons, M.K. Ravindran Pillai, chairman of the Bangalore-based Defence Employees' Unions Coordination Committee, said it was unfair that there was a hue and cry whenever the salaries of government employees were to be reviewed once a decade.

The staff strength in the Government had come down to 31 lakh from 40 lakh.

The vacancies, caused due to retirement, were not being filled, he said.

"Computerisation has reduced the number of employees. Only one against three vacancies are allowed to be filled by the Government," he said. On granting A1 status to Bangalore, Mr. Pillai said the population of the city was more than that of Chennai according to the 2001 Census.

Other demands

The other demands of the committee included sanction of Rs. 1,000 as interim relief for Central Government employees.

Mr. Pillai urged the Government not to implement the recommendations of the Kelkar Committee, by which Raksha Udyog Ratna status would be given to private industries producing arms, ammunition and other equipment required by the Armed Forces.

"If the Kelkar Committee recommendations are implemented, defence employees working in the Ordnance factories and its allied establishments will lose their jobs. The move will also jeopardise the security of the nation," he said.

Venkatesh Murthy, organising secretary of the committee, and Hadli, general secretary of the Karnataka State Government Employees' Union, spoke.

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