In Punjab, approximately 300,000 government employees have gone on mass leave, effective from today until October 22. Driven by demands related to Dearness Allowance (DA), the old pension scheme, and the regularization of services, this protest is expected to impact government offices and bus services.
पंजाब में 3 लाख सरकारी कर्मचारियों की हड़ताल, दो दिन की सामूहिक छुट्टी पर गए, पुरानी पेंशन और DA समेत कई मांगें
Headline…
- Around 300,000 government employees in Punjab are on mass casual leave, starting today and continuing until October 22.
- The employees’ protest is expected to impact government offices, the Punjab Civil Secretariat, and state-run bus services.
- The employees are demanding the payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA), the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and the regularization of temporary staff.
- Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and the PRTC (Punjab Road Transport Corporation) are also demanding regularization, which could disrupt bus operations.
Government employees in Punjab have intensified their agitation in support of their demands. Approximately 300,000 state employees will be on mass casual leave for two days—from today until October 22. This two-day protest is expected to disrupt operations in government offices, including the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, and may also affect public transport services.
Employee unions state that they have been in talks with the government regarding their demands for a long time, but no satisfactory resolution has been reached. In protest, the employees have decided to stay away from work for two days. Today, they plan to stage a ‘dharna’ (sit-in protest) at the Punjab Civil Secretariat to press for their demands.
Demands for DA, Old Pension Scheme, and Regularization
Sahil Sharma, General Secretary of the Joint Action Committee at the Civil Secretariat, confirmed that around 300,000 employees will be on mass casual leave for both days. He noted that the protest had been announced in advance and that employees would be demonstrating against the government.
According to Sahil Sharma, the employees’ primary demands include the payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA)—in line with a High Court order—the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and the regularization of temporary staff. Additionally, they are seeking a resolution to issues concerning salaries during the probation period.
Demand for 18% DA; Dissatisfaction over the 8% offer
Differences have also emerged between the employees and the government regarding the Dearness Allowance (DA). Sahil Sharma stated that employees should be granted an 18 percent Dearness Allowance (DA); however, following a recent meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, it emerged that only an 8 percent DA is being offered. Employees consider this insufficient in light of their demands.
The employees have asserted that their agitation will continue until a concrete decision is reached regarding their demands. The protest scheduled for today at the Secretariat is part of this pressure tactic. Due to mass leave, operations across various government departments may slow down, potentially causing difficulties for the public in completing essential government-related tasks.
Potential impact on Punjab Roadways and PRTC bus services
The impact of the agitation is unlikely to be confined solely to government offices. Bus services operated by Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) may also be affected. Contractual drivers, conductors, and mechanics working within these transport services are demanding regularization.
The employees’ protest could lead to a reduced availability of buses on major state routes. This may cause inconvenience to daily commuters—including working professionals, students, and other passengers—who rely on these bus services.
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