Implement 7th CPC Report with retrospective effect, Grant Interim Relief - Confederation

PUDUCHERRY: As many as two hundred members of the Confederation of Pondicherry State Government Employees Associations were arrested here, on Wednesday, for attempting to picket the Chief Secretariat demanding the implementation of the yet-to-be submitted seventh pay commission’s recommendations with retrospective effect.

In the meantime, the confederation leaders urged the Central government to announce an interim relief.

Apart from seeking the implementation of its recommendations from the date of the constitution of the commission, the agitators also put forth a 34-charter of demands that included the filling up of vacancies in all the departments, replacement of the new pension scheme with the old one, setting up of grievance cell in all departments and cadre restructuring to improve chances of promotion for employees.

The panel set up on January 1, 2014 by the previous UPA government will take at least 18 to 24 months to submit its final recommendations.

Puducherry government has 25,000 employees, who enjoy similar service conditions as that of their Central government counterparts.

Earlier, members of the confederation took out a rally. As the police did not allow them to proceed beyond the Head Post office, they began demonstrating then and there. After a while, all the agitators were arrested and removed.

The protest was led by Seetharaman. Office bearers of the association C H Balamohanan and Premadasan were among those, who  took part in the rally and the subsequent agitation.

Meanwhile, the joint action committee members of the municipality and commune panchayat workers associations, affiliated to the AITUC held a demonstration in front of the Local Administration Department demanding the regularisation of the part time and daily rated employees who are working for more than 15 years.

They also urged the administration to provide Deepavali bonus for part time employees, and make appointments on compassionate grounds to the relatives of those who died.

The joint action committee had planned three phased agitation to press these demands.

Wednesday’s first phase agitation was led by AITUC leader V S Abishegam. The second and third phase of the agitation would be held near Raj Nivas here on November 18 and 25 respectively.