Over 2 lakh government staff participate in indefinite strike

Their demands included the old pension scheme back in place and regularisation of wages instead of special pay and pension. Staff of most of the departments did not turn up for work and this affected the daily routine. This was aided by the opposition-sponsored strike on Tuesday.

Daily work in several departments such as the treasury and accounts and rural development was affected badly. The offices of the AD welfare and BC welfare departments in Ezhilagam in Chennai were not even opened as almost all the employees participated in the strike. In other offices at Ezhilagam, which houses 12 departments, there was only a thin attendance The staff gathered in front of the building and shouted slogans in support of their demands.

More than 2 lakh government employees had participated in the strike, according to the association president Subramanian. He added that major works, including local body poll-related activities, drought relief, removal of encroachments and drinking water supply, were not carried out on Tuesday.

He informed that the association members had planned to hold demonstrations on Wednesday. They will also organise a road blockade at the district headquarters on Thursday and Friday. If there was no response from the state government, the strike would become indefinite from May 2, he noted.