The Confederation of Service Association of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) on Thursday claimed that the first day of its non-cooperation democratic movement launched against the Government passed off successfully with 100 per cent participation and support from the State Government employees of all the districts.
Demanding various allowances like House Rent Allowance (HRA), New Travelling Allowance (TA), Dearness Allowance (DA), Tough Location Allowance (TLA) etc., at par with the All India Services (AIS) employees, the CoSAAP had last week threatened to launch a series of non-cooperation movements against the Government from October 11 last.
The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of CoSAAP which extended its gratitude to all the Government employees for participating on Thursday’s pen and tool down strike said that the State Government should not be adamant to consider the genuine demands of its own employees.
“In the event of non-fulfillment of the demands, the ongoing democratic movement is likely to continue in a phase-wise manner as declared by the association earlier. In such a situation, the entire people, student and business communities and all the other stakeholders concerned who are coming to the State for various purposes are earnestly appealed to bear with us since our demands are legitimate and genuine. Moreover, if at all the stakeholders and general people are deprived of their entitled services and other inconveniences during the protest, the responsibility of that solely lies on the adamant State Government,” CoSAAP president Pate Marik said in a statement on Thursday evening.
The association, at the same time, also condemned the Government’s announcement to punish the employees who participate in the agitation under the CCS (Conduct) Rules and other relevant Act/Rules. Further announcing that the ongoing democratic movement of the association would continue till the time all the demands are not fulfilled, the CoSAAP also declared that, in case, any of its leader(s) are arrested or victimised, the organisation will launch a “Jail Bharo Andolan” all across Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary’s office, on the other hand, contradicted the claim made by CoSAAP that the first day of its non-cooperation democratic movement launched against the Government passed off successfully with 100 per cent participation and support from the State Government employees of all the districts.
“The Chief Secretary’s office received reports from all the heads of departments after every two hours about the situation in their respective offices in the wake of CoSAAP’s pen and tools down agitation on Thursday. All the offices were functioning in their normal manner,” the statement from the CS’s office said.
However, as some of the employees were reported to be on the pen/tool down agitation, the list of such employees have been obtained and accordingly proceedings to deduct one day salary has been initiated as per the principle of “no work, no pay”.
The statement further warned that if any Government employee is found to be participating in the agitation on Friday, then ‘dies non’ along with break in service will be initiated against the particular employee.
It was further informed that the Chief Secretary In-charge Dr Ashish Chandra Verma inspected various offices of the Capital Complex on Thursday and mobile teams would be constituted to check the situation in the offices on Friday as well.
The Government appeals to all its employees to refrain from any illegal action which may adversely affect the interest of the people and thanks the majority of employees who chose to work in public interest in spite of inducement and threats by certain persons, the statement further read.
Observing that the proposed strike of CoSAAP, if continued, may lead to total breakdown of the State machinery, the statement also warned its employees on Wednesday that disciplinary action will be taken against them if they join the pen and tool down strike.
While responding to CoSAAP’s demands, an official statement issued by the Chief Secretary’s office on Wednesday evening said that the Cabinet has decided to grant HRA and TLA to its employees despite the “precarious” financial condition of the State.
The statement further said that the State Cabinet had also noted that “the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) have not been implemented in most of the States in the country, especially in the northeastern region.”
Besides demanding the 7th CPC allowances in toto, the other demands of the CoSAAP include immediate restoration of All India Medical Attendance Rule, No Objection Certificate (NOC) system to be implemented to all the citizens rather than making it limited to State Government employees or withdraw the system completely, etc.