Uttarakhand secretariat employees go on indefinite strike

In a recent Cabinet decision, the govt had reverted to six-day-a-week instead of five days, which was introduced during the former N D Tiwari regime

After two-month-old strike by ministerial employees, the Uttarakhand secretariat employees have now gone on an indefinite strike, protesting against the government's decision to revert to the six-day-a-week and introduce biometric attendance system.

Since Tuesday, the work has been affected due to the strike by 1,200-odd employees of the state secretariat, a top government official said.

In a recent Cabinet decision, the government had reverted to six-day-a-week instead of five days, which was introduced during the former N D Tiwari regime.

"The working in the secretariat is different from other state departments. We have been working for almost six days by devoting additional two hours during all the five days. So, the introduction of six-day-a-week is totally arbitrary and unjustified," said Narendra Prasad Raturi.

Most of the employees on Wednesday held protest rallies and did not attend offices as a mark of protest.

On the introduction of biometric attendance system, Raturi said the employees will accept such system only when all the employees, including the chief secretary starts registering their attendance through biometric cards.

As the strike continued, top government officials were seen holding meetings with Chief Minister Harish Rawat to devise strategies to deal with the agitation.

Last week, the High Court had come down heavily on the indefinite strike of the ministerial employees, asking the government to take appropriate action for the smooth functioning of the collectorate offices.

Fearing action, the ministerial employees withdrew the strike, seeking changes in the promotion policy.

PROTEST AGAINST WORKING HOURS

• The work at the state's secretariat has been affected since Tuesday due to the strike by 1,200-odd employees of the state secretariat, a government official said
   
• Most of the employees on Wednesday held protest rallies and did not attend offices as a mark of protest