Mir Farhat
Srinagar, Sept 17: Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of State Government Employees’ today called off their five day strike after their leaders met with the Government representatives in Civil Secretariat over the implementation of the agreement signed between the two in June last year.
JCC leader, Abdul Qayoom Wani said the leaders of the employees’ amalgam held a two and half hour meeting with the six member Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) members of the Government in Civil Secretariat, which began at 9 a.m. today.
Among the six members of the Government, five Ministers -Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Medical Education and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma and Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Sadhotra met the four employees’ leaders, Abdul Qayoom Wani, Abdul Rouf Bhat, Abdul Gafoor Dar and Haji Mohammad Ashraf Bhat.
Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khanday, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar and Secretary, General Administration Department, M. A. Bukhari were also present in the meeting.
“After our sustained struggle, the Government today showed some positive approach and seriousness in the meeting. However, we made it clear to the Government that no new agreement will be accepted by us as we have already made our demands clear to them,” Wani said.
He said after thorough discussion with the committee over the demands of the 4 lakh employees, they (Government) sought some more time.
“The JCC leaders are again meeting the committee on September 27 at 4 pm in the Civil Secretariat. If the Government fails to come with positive signs in that meeting, we will launch an intense agitation and will not let the Assembly session run,” he warned.
Another JCC leader, Mohammad Gafoor Dar said the Government till now “deliberately delayed” considering our demands “but today they accepted their mistakes in delaying the implementation of the agreement.”
Dar warned that the employees will wait for the outcome of the September 28 meet and if the Government does not implement their demands after the meeting “it (further delay) will cost the Government dearly”.
“The committee will communicate their decision to us on September 27 meeting. And its outcome will decide the future course of our strike programme,” said Abdul Rouf Bhat, JCC Convener.
Meanwhile, a Government spokesperson quoting Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, chairman of the sub-committee, said the meeting with JCC representatives was held in a “cordial” atmosphere.
“Rather assures to consider employees demands with a positive frame of mind as early as possible. The coalition Government is seriously looking into the demands of the employees with regard to enhancement of the retirement age, removal of pay anomalies, if any, and formulation of a comprehensive policy for casual labourers engaged from time to time,” the spokesperson said.
Rather urged upon the employees representatives to maintain the atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and promote, work culture in offices.
“The Government was not in favour of any confrontation with its employees. Despite limited financial resources the Government has met most of the demands of the employees and will continue to hold discussion with them to redress their remaining genuine grievances.”
The agitating employees are demanding extension of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, regularization of daily wagers and removal of pay anomalies in the clerical cadre, besides budgetary support for public sector undertakings.
JCC, an amalgam of several employees’ unions, had on September 11 announced a five-day protest calendar that was scheduled to begin from Tuesday, September 17 to press for their demands before the start of the Assembly session.
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