Fresh troubles for Fadnavis govt: 17 lakh state employees on strike from today

In fresh troubles for Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis around 17 lakh government employees go on a three-day strike demanding implementation of the seventh pay commission among several other demands.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: In fresh troubles for Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis around 17 lakh government employees go on  a three-day strike demanding implementation of the seventh pay commission among several other demands. However, around 1.5 lakh gazetted officers withdrew from the strike after a Government Resolution (GR) was issued stating that the pending arrears of the Dearness Allowance (DA) for a period of 14 months will be paid to them. Another GR was issued stating that the 7th pay commission will be implemented from January 2019. The main demands of the employees are: Quick implementation of the seventh pay commission Two-days of week-off Increasing retirement age from 58 years to 60 years. The state government employees are irked over the late implementation of seventh pay commission in the Maharashtra government when Central government employees are already enjoying the privileges. Recently the Fadnavis government experienced a major crisis in the form of Maratha agitation when the Maratha youths started ending their lives over demands of reservation. At least seven people had ended their lives in the agitation. The agitators also started a ‘jail bharo’ protest in several parts of the state. The agitation impelled Fadnavis to agree that all constitutional obligations required for granting reservation to the Maratha community in the state would be completed by November.