I-T dept employees observe day-long strike across country

Over 50,000 employees of the Income Tax Department today observed a day-long countrywide strike to press the government for redressal of their service-related demands.
Officials of the striking unions said no work was conducted at these offices all day and the next plan of action will be decided on October 11.
The main tax office at the Civic Centre building here wore a near-deserted look even as striking employees were seen staging protests in the compound.
"More than 50,000 officers and staff of the department participated in the day-long strike as a result of which normal work in all offices of the country was stalled. We are meeting again on October 11 to decide the future course of action," ITEF President A K Kanojia said.

The I-T Department has two prominent groups -- the Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) and ITGOA -- and they represent about 97 per cent of the workforce.
The remaining three per cent work force of the department comprises officers drawn from the Indian Revenue Service.

"We have received no communication from the government or CBDT till this evening. We propose to take the agitation further," President of the Income Tax Gazetted Officers' Association (ITGOA) Ajay Goyal said.
A CBDT official said while normal work suffered due to the strike, some "back-up arrangements" were made to keep things moving.
The associations said if their demands for timely promotion in cadres and providing required infrastructure and a few others are not met, the work of budget collection and taxpayer services are "bound to fail" in the coming days.

A joint statement issued by the two unions said they "might not take part in the vital search and survey operations", conducted by the department to check tax evasion, in the coming days and if their demands are not addressed.
A memoranda was also sent by the striking employees to the Finance Ministry and the CBDT.
Offices of the department will remain open as usual from tomorrow.