2-day pen-down strike by Arunachal employees from Thursday

Employees of the Arunachal Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to go for a two-day pen & tool down strike from Thursday to protest non-fulfilment of their demand of implementation of recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for them.

The Congress also demanded that the Arunachal Pradesh government implement recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in the state in toto.

The Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) rejected 'partial' fulfilment of its demand by the state government and resorted to the two-day strike which is the first phase of the agitation, CoSAAP president Pate Marik said.

If the demands were not met, the CoSAAP to go for a four-day pen & tool down strike from October 23, followed by an indefinite strike from November 8, Marik said.

Among the employees' demands on the pay panel, the state cabinet on Monday decided to consider only grant of tough location allowance (TLA) and house rent allowance (HRA), he said.

The Cabinet decision has been conveyed to the CoSAAP.

Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Takam Sanjoy also accused the BJP government of delaying the issue of employees' demands.

"The state government had implemented 5th and 6th Pay Commission recommendations in the state in toto.... (The employees are) entitled constitutionally to get each and every benefit of 7th central pay commission," Sanjoy said in a statement.

The Congress expressed its support and solidarity to the cause of various layers of employees of the state government, he said.