Scene I: Pensioners of the Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam, a government nodal enterprise for planning and executing water and sewage schemes in the state, have declared a lockout at its Mohini Road headquarters here paralyzing all works since October 8.
Scene II: Striking government employees have gathered at Parade Ground here to demand better pay revision that includes removal of discrepancies in their pay structure. They are claiming support of nearly 2 lakh employees who have refused work during the past one week in the state.
Scene III: Employees in the state secretariat are making fresh strategies to strike work and demand hike in their salaries.
In all the three scenes described above, the conclusion can easily be drawn that Uttarakhand is on strike these days. But the government is claiming all important works are going on the state and has refused to concede demands of the striking employees so far. “Important files are being cleared,” said chief secretary Subhash Kumar.
But how long the government can wait for the employees to rejoin their duties? This is the big question which is haunting Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the face of burgeoning non-plan expenditures. The expenditure pattern of the state reveals that the revenue expenditure was around 83.50% leaving inadequate resources for creation of assets, CAG said in its latest report on the state’s finances for the year ended March 31, 2012 which was kept in the state assembly.
The non-plan revenue expenditure (NPRE) increased by 16.45% over the previous year in 2012, it said. The expenditure of on salaries in the state accounted for 46.66% and continued to consume a major share of NPRE during 2011-12.
But despite the strikes, the government is making no hesitation in placating the employees keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections next year. As part of the diwali gift, the government yesterday announced 10% increase in the dearness allowance of the state government employees.
But the move failed to bring cheers among the striking employees, who remained adamant on the better pay revision. “We want justice or we will continue our strike,” said Prahalad Singh, the leader of the striking employees.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that the employees have gone on strike in a big way. During the past 13 years since Uttarakhand was created, there had been umpteen strikes by the employees who forced the government to accept their demands every time they go on strike. This time too, the striking employees are confident that their demands will be accepted.
