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| 5% HRA in two installments, 8% DA agreed, ESMA lifted, cases withdrawn | | Deadlock between employees, govt ends | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 15: With the government 'accommodating' most of the concerns of state employees, the deadlock that prevailed for over two months over demands has ended. In the two rounds of meetings with representatives of employees today, threadbare discussions helped stalemate end and sorting out of major issues even as the main demands on release of arrears and enhancement of retirement age have been shelved for want of what government contended 'consensus of all political parties.ESMA has been lifted and all the cases against employees have been withdrawn.
In the post agitation period that lasted over two weeks in March this year, the crucial meeting between leaders of employees and the cabinet sub committee led by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather took place this evening at Srinagar in which the government agreed in principle payment of 8% DA which is due from January 2010. While from January upto May this will be deposited in the GP fund of employees, DA will be released in cash from June this year. On the vital issue of HRA the government has agreed hike of 5 % . However, this will be paid in two installments of two and a half percent , one installment to be paid with the salary of June this year and the rest half in next year. Though government had earlier granted 15% hike in HRA, the employees had been agitating for 5% more to have parity with Central government employees in this slab. The government has also agreed to conversion of COLA of all PSUS into DA, a move which has been appreciated by the employees.
As against what employees had been requesting that their absence from duty be treated as on duty or it be treated as special leave, the government instead of acceding this, has agreed to grant them leave, whatever due in favour of the employees.The Finance Minister AR Rather has also announced salaries in favour of the employees for the striking period and a positive and lenient view shall be taken against whom action was taken under ESMA.
Evena s the two rounds of meeting which lasted for nearly four hours saw most of the issues being discussed under a congenial atmosphere and on a cordial note, one of the senior leaders of EJAC Qayoom Wani along with his group suddenly walked out of the meeting after some heated argument with PHE and Irrigation Minister Taj Mohi-u-Din over some issue. Sources said Taj spoke in a threatening and loud tone, something which this leader disliked and chose to walkout. However, they came back and rejoined the negotiations after Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar intervened and pacified the leader, sources added.
Maintaining status quo of their stand the payment of arrears, the main demand around which the state government employees have been agitating remained unresolved as the government reiterated that until a roadmap was prepared for the same they cannot make any commitment on the payment. Finance Minister said that the assurances given by the Chief Minister will be adhered strictly and road map for the release of arrears will be accordingly prepared within three months on the basis of which appropriate decisions will be taken. For acquiring the full pension benefits, the cabinet sub Committee has decided to reduce the qualifying services from 30 years to 28 years, though SL Bhat committee has recommended 25 years as qualifying service for pensionary benefits. However, the employees leaders have taken this as achievement in their kitty as it would benefit a large section of employees.
The government did not make any commitment on reguralization of daily wagers and assured that the Cabinet Sub-Committee already framed shall submit its report to the cabinet within six months.yet another important demand on enhancement of retirement age has been shelved in today's meeting as the government contended that the issue needed wider consultations , mainly consensus with all political parties of the state since this involves huge financial implications for them.Though the employees' leaders insisted and agreed to get the age enhanced by only one year, that is from 58 at present to 59, the government did not make any commitment except the assurance on consensus.
One more significant outcome of today's meeting that while both sides agreed that no provocative statements from henceforth on any issue would be given, the employees' leaders ,who are believed to be satisfied with some achievements in their kitty, have also agreed that they will not resort to strike in future and all issues would be settled through negotiations.
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