Civil Secretariat employees today held a strong protest demonstration in Secretariat lawns to pres government to resolve their long pending issues.According to GNS, Ghulam Rasool Mir, Chairman Civil Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee said that Government has turned deaf years towards resolving long pending issues and that is why they were compelled to hold protest.“The Chief Minister has made commitments on various issues to get them resolved within time frame but the authorities at the helm of affairs have dumped such commitments. Last year, the Chief Minister made commitment that 144 flats shall be completed by April 2017 at Sempora Pampore of which work has now been started and is expected not get complete by 2018,” he said.He said that similarly for flats at Tulsibagh, the land acquisition is still pending. “Flats at Panjthirthi, Ahata Amarsing, Sarwal were to be completed by November 2016 of which work has not been started yet. These commitments made by the CM seem to be ignored in all respects by concerned,” he said.The employees who held protests said the Government has assured to resolve pay anomaly issue once for all and issue notification thereof with the 7th pay Commission.
“Both these notifications are still pending because of committees have not been reconstituted in view of change of Administrative setup. When the reconstitution of committees is still pending, how is it possible to issue notification? This is clear that government is playing with the sentiments of employees and are not serious to resolve the issues,” said Ghulam Rasool.He said another major issue is attachment of employees particularly in the personal sections of ministers and officers which has created nuisance in Civil Secretariat working. “A year back, Chief Minister took serious note of it and directed Chief Secretary to detach all such employees forthwith. The directions were followed by Government orders and Circular Instructions issued by the General Administration Department from time to time but detachment has not been taken place as most of the attachments are working under the shadow of ministers and officers of the departments,” he said.The employees said that with regard to eviction of illegal occupants from the government accommodation meant for employees particularly for Darbar Move Employees has also been ignored despite various directions for eviction “because the government accommodation is illegally occupied under the patronage of politicians and bureaucrats”. “The Estates Department is losing huge money as rent dues from these illegal occupants. These illegal occupants are residing in government accommodation without government allotment orders,” they said.“It is very unfortunate that Law Department appointed Standing councils are unable to protect state property as a common man getting stay orders from the courts for continuation of government accommodation after occupying illegally,” the protesting employees said.
Listing demands, Ghulam Rasool, the employees’ president said the Secretary Tourism has informed that JKTDC canteen rates are rolled back but employees demand is to establish canteen within the premises of Civil Secretariat on tender basis as the present JKTDC canteen is sucking blood of employees. “The government is not serious to resolve our small issues, so how it is possible that government will resolve our cadre review issue pending since decades. Constitution of Cadre Review Committee for various Cadres like GAD, Law, Accounts and Planning is eyewash and employees shall get themselves ready for big fight,” he said.The employee leader alleged that State Accountability Commission authorities are unnecessarily harassing employees and asked GAD to recall all employees from the Commission or the union shall at their own call back the employees. On the occasion, he announced another protest on Friday, August 4 in Civil Secretariat lawns.Among others who spoke on the occasion include Maqbool Hussain, president JKLGEU, Thanaji Bhat Gen Secretary, Muzaffar Nabi Secretary JKCSNGEU and Mohammad Afzal Gen. Secretary JKLGEU and Manzoor Qadir. (GNS)