Govt succumbs to pressure, announces 17% hike in salary; employees withdraw strike

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka government employees who had embarked on an indefinite strike called it off only in a span of few hours after the government offered them an interim relief of 17 percent hike in basic salary.

CS Shadakshari, president of the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, made the announcement that the strike had been called off with immediate effect and further urged his colleagues to report to work. Shadakshari met with officials from the finance department and was given a copy of the 17 per cent hike offer.

While he thanked the government for the relief, he reiterated that the employees would continue their agitation if their demands go unmet. The employees had demanded interim relief of 40 per cent increase in basic salary and revision of salaries as per the 7th Pay Commission.

On their demand to scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and revert to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the government said the committee under Additional Chief Secretary would study the feasibility. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai said that the committee has been told to study the changes introduced in other states across India. His statement came after a meeting with the finance department.

The strike affected various services, including that of health and education. Employees of the University of Agriculture Sciences crowded outside the entrance while the teaching staff did not take part in the strike and continued their classes. SSLC preparatory examinations commencing on Wednesday were postponed due to the strike and will now be held on March 6.

Doctors attended to emergency cases while wearing a black badge and out-patient departments in various government hospitals were brought to a still. On the other hand, services at specialty hospitals like the Vani Vilas Maternity hospital and Institute of Nephro Urology remained unaffected. The Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) was part of the commenced strike.

The Vidhana Soudha and M S Building on Ambedkar Veedhi in the city, housing a number of government offices, were deserted. The Mini Vidhana Soudha in Yelahanka was also empty. Protesters were politely declining to engage with those who had turned up to get work at these offices. Subregistrars offices across the city also remained closed. Employees of BBMP held a protest at the head office premises in N R Square.

However, there was very little effect on transport services as the KSRTC and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses operated as usual. The police personnel were deployed at prominent places to ensure that the strike did not pose any law and order problem.