Chhattisgarh Government Employees to Stage Lunch Break Protests on March 18 Over Pending Demands

Chhattisgarh Government Employees to Stage Lunch Break Protests on March 18 Over Pending Demands

In a significant move, officers and employees of the Chhattisgarh government, organized under the Chhattisgarh Karmachari Adhikari Federation (CKAF), are set to stage demonstrations at district and block headquarters across the state on March 18. The protests will occur during their lunch breaks, aiming to highlight and press for various long-standing demands that have remained unresolved for years.

Key Grievances and Demands

The CKAF has called for large-scale participation to demonstrate unity among government workers. The federation's demands are multifaceted, addressing critical issues affecting employees' financial security and working conditions.

• Dearness Allowance (DA) Arrears: A primary demand is the adjustment of DA arrears pending since July 2016 into General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. This adjustment is sought in alignment with the 'Modi Ki Guarantee' election promise, which has yet to be fully implemented.
• Pay Structure Reforms: Protestors are advocating for a 4-tier time-scale pay structure at intervals of 8, 16, 24, and 32 years, which would provide systematic salary increments based on service duration.
• Leave Encashment Increase: They seek an increase in earned leave encashment to 300 days, mirroring the policy already in place in neighboring Madhya Pradesh, to enhance employee benefits.

Additional Critical Demands

Beyond financial adjustments, the CKAF has outlined several other pressing issues that require immediate attention from the state government.

1. Salary Discrepancies: Demand for the public release of the Pingua Committee report to resolve salary discrepancies affecting clerks, teachers, and staff in the health and women and child development departments.
2. Service Benefits for Teachers: Calculation of service benefits for teachers from their initial date of appointment, ensuring fair treatment and recognition of their tenure.
3. Compassionate Appointments: Removal of the 10% cap on compassionate appointments and making the process unconditional across all direct recruitment posts to support families of deceased employees.
4. Regularization of Workers: Regularization of panchayat secretaries, daily wage workers, and contractual employees to provide job security and stability.
5. Retirement Age Increase: Increasing the retirement age to 65 years to address staff shortages and retain experienced personnel in government services.

Systemic Changes and Recruitment Appeals

The federation also emphasized the need for systemic reforms to improve workplace conditions and efficiency.

• Aadhaar-Based Attendance: Demand to end the Aadhaar-based attendance systems, citing privacy concerns and operational inefficiencies.
• Post-Retirement Appointments: Cessation of the practice of post-retirement contractual appointments, which can hinder opportunities for new recruits.
• Immediate Recruitment: Instead, the CKAF urged the state government to permit immediate recruitment for vacant posts, filling gaps in public services and reducing workload on existing staff.

Leadership Call to Action

Kamal Verma, the CKAF state convenor and also the state President of the Chhattisgarh Gazetted Officers Association, has made a fervent appeal to all employees. He encouraged widespread participation in the stir to amplify their collective voice and push for the resolution of these critical issues. The demonstrations aim to draw attention to the plight of government workers and prompt actionable responses from authorities.