Hundreds of government employees staged a protest in Mohali today under the banner of the “Purane Scale, Purani Pension ate Bhatte Bahali Morcha”, demanding restoration of old pay scales, old pension scheme and pending allowances. The police resorted to mild lathicharge as the protesters marched towards Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Chandigarh.
After assembling in large numbers in front of Gurdwara Amb Sahib, the protesters started a march towards the CM’s house. They were stopped by police personnel deployed in large numbers. When the protesters tried to continued their march despite police action, the latter used water cannons and resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse them. Several employees were reportedly injured in police action.
The protesters alleged that AAP, which, before coming to power, had promised that it would address employees’ grievances, has failed to fulfil any major demand in the past four-and-a-half years. They accused the government of exploiting employees through the new pay scales, denial of pending dearness allowance (DA) at 18 per cent and the scrapping of 37 types of allowances, including rural and border area allowances.
The speakers pointed out the alleged contradiction in the AAP government’s stand — it had opposed the Centre’s new pay pattern for Chandigarh employees earlier, but was now imposing even lower pay scales (Rs 31,000) on new recruits in Punjab, resulting in nearly 40 per cent less salary.
Strong exception was also taken to the delay in implementing the old pension scheme despite the partial notification issued on November 18, 2022. The employees demanded implementation of the 1972 rules for GPF-based old pension and early release of the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission report, which has been pending for long.
Sewa Kendra employee union to continue strike
1,850 employees working in Sewa Kendras across Punjab, who have been on strike since May 26, held a meeting at Gurdwara Sahib in Mohali of Sewa Kendra Employees Welfare Association Punjab and decided to boycott and protest against the job fairs to be held across Punjab on June 3 for the recruitment of new youth. These employees are not even being given the full DC rate, nor the ESI benefit. They are being exploited with a nominal salary of just about Rs 12,000 per month. They have demanded a monthly salary of Rs 40,000.
