Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: The clerical cadre employees of various Government departments today observed pen down strike and held strong protest demonstration against the Government for ignoring the issue of pay anomalies of the cadre.
A large number of employees under the banner of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Association assembled at Press Club near Tawi bridge here in the morning and started protest demonstration. Senior trade unionists, Babu Hussain Malik, Bharat Bhushan, K A Dewani, Ashok Singh, Yash Pal Sharma, Javed Akhnoon, Meenakshi Sharma, Farida Bano, Reva Ram Rathore and others were leading.
The employees of clerical cadre as already declared, observed Kam Chhor Hartal and moved to the Press Club to participate in the protest rally to be taken towards Civil Secretariat. The protesting employees were shouting slogans in support of their demands. They were also carrying banners and placards in their hands. They were demanding removal of pay anomalies of the cadre from Junior Assistant to Senior Assistant and Head Assistant scale; conduct of DPC in time, implementation of 7th Pay Commission in the State on the Central pattern, increase of Medical Allowance of employees and pensioners from Rs 300 to Rs 2000 per month and regularization of all type of temporary workers.
Babau Hussain Malik and some other Trade Union leaders addressed the gathering and criticized the State Govt for causing delay in addressing pending issues of the cadre. They alleged that a committee framed by Govt had also given its recommendations on the subject and moreover, the High Court has also issues directive to remove pay anomalies but the HC order was also not implemented.
As the protesting employees took out their march towards Gumat for the Civil secretariat, the strong contingent of police stopped them and foiled their march. The agitating workers then culminated their march after showing some resistance. A large number of employees from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) also participated in the protest rally. Similar protests were held at various districts headquarters in the region.