Despite threat of termination from the state government,4.50 lakh employees continue to defy the warnings of administration for 11th day in row. With employees extending their strike till April 19,there seems to be no respite for the common man from the hardships it is facing due to the current stand-off between the Government and workers. Continuing with their lock down campaign,most of the government departments remained closed in the state,with employees continuing to organize protests at their respective offices. Though,administration has forcibly broken locks at certain offices and has begun suspension of the key union leaders,for taking part in the agitation,most of the employees have remained adamant on their demands. The demands include full release of the arrears under the 6th Pay Commission Report. We will not succumb till our demands are not met. Our agitation will continue despite the brutal measures adopted by the Omar Abdullah government,said Gafooq Dar,a senior employee Union. The state government says it doesnt have the money to pay a whopping Rs 4,200 crore in arrears,and though the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) has been invoked in the state,the employees refuse to budge. Sources say hectic efforts are on to break the deadlock and find an amicable solution. Sources said that a list of 50 employees including majority of their leaders has been submitted to the Government (GAD) for action under ESMA,wich was imposed about three days back. Meanwhile no work was allowed by the employees in most of the PSU offices including Estates,DC Office Jammu,PDD Gandhinagar,Accounts and Treasuries,Ranbir Government Press,Directorate of Education,Local Bodies,JMC wings,CEO,Excise,Horticulture,CAD,Agriculture,Revenue. Divisional Commissioner,Jammu Pawan Kotwal said that a list of 35 workers was submitted to the Government yesterday and now the 50 employees in Jammu region will face direct action under ESMA. Kotwal claimed that many of the employees in GMC,SMGS and its associated hospitals besides others in the districts,have returned.
