Khandu adopts tough stand against agitation 

PASIGHAT, Oct 11: Chief Minister Pema Khandu today said that the state government will not succumb to any pressure tactics by CoSAAP in response to their ongoing agitation during a public meeting held here at the market area of the centennial town. 

Calling the strike by CoSAAP as illegal, anti-development and against public interest, Khandu said: “Few individuals under the banner of CoSAAP are misusing their position for their own benefits and are misleading the entire employee community. In fact the majority of the employees does not approve such kind of pressure tactics.”
He said the Team Arunachal government will not succumb to any intimidation and arm twisting tactics. “The BJP govt in the state has neither intimidated anybody nor will be intimidated by anyone. Certain individuals being aware of election timing are trying to manipulate the situation for their own benefit and giving the issue a political colour,” he said. 
Sending out message of cautionary action against agitating employees, Chief Minister said there will be ' no work no pay' rule applied on the first day of the strike. If the strike persists for second day, there will be ‘break in service’ for those employees taking part.
Also stating that state government will not hesitate to terminate the agitating employees  from their service, Khandu said, “We will be happy to do so as we are eager to recruit fresh hardworking and committed employees.”
Appealing the CoSAAP to rise above their self-interest and to think for the larger interest of the state, CM said that about 60% of state’s resources are spent on revenue expenditure including salaries, wages, OE and OC leaving meager 40% for development activities.
“Take a moment to consider for the welfare of others too. How justified are we if try to suck in all resources for our own benefit,” he asked. He said Arunachal has one of the highest government employee population ratios in the country putting great financial pressure on already resource crunch state. 
Chief Minister said the state government is not against the demand of CoSAAP for additional allowances but is only seeking time as the state’s financial position is not sound as of now to meet all the demands at one go.

He said as and when financial condition improves, the state govt will implement allowances for govt employees phase wise. 

On certain genuine demands, the state government has granted tough location and soft location allowances including ‘house rent allowance’ for Group C employee and NPA for doctors. This is despite the state government not being constitutionally obliged to fulfil such demands.  
Moreover, Arunachal government has always been forthcoming when it comes to welfare of its employee. It is one of the few states in India to implement the 7th CPC recommendations and has been giving out other benefits time to time. The state government had also agreed to enhance the retirement age despite protests from several employees. 

CoSAAP claims strike grand success, flays govt for dies non

ITANAGAR, Oct 11: Undeterred by the threat of punitive measures including no work-no pay rule adopted by the Chief Secretary, the first day of the tools and pen down strike by the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) passed off today and the association claimed cent per cent success.

A press release issued by CoSAAP said as per reports it received from various offices of capital complex and districts, the non-cooperation stir was a grand success and it received full support from the government employees.
The statement further said that government should not be so adamant to consider the genuine demands of its own employees. In the event of non-fulfillment of employees' demands, the on-going democratic movement is likely to continue as per the earlier phase-wise declaration, it said. In such situations, all the public, students, business community and other citizens coming to the state and state capital  for various purposes were requested to bear with the union since the employees demands are legitimate and genuine. 
At the same time, CoSAAP condemned and opposed the Govt.  order to deduct one day salary and dies non of first and second day of the agitation and its readiness to invoke provisions of CCS Conduct Rule, 1964 and CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965. It is funny and astonishing that when Govt. is applying the CCS Rules to punish its employees, the Govt.  has forgotten that the employees' demands are covered under Central Civil (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 and provisions content in every successive CCS (Pay) Rules, the statement said and added that hence there is no logic to invoke certain CCS Rules to punish the employees when employees are claiming benefits under the same set of CCS Rules adapted by same State Govt.

It further said the order of the Govt. to punish its employees on the pretext of financial constraints is baseless and an eyewash with a clear intention to suppress and thwart the rightful activities and to divide and rule the united employees' movement. 

If the State Govt. is really in financial strains, it should have guts to declare financial emergency in the interest of entire state rather then wrongfully curtailing the genuine entitlement of its employees. It further said the agitation will continue till all demands are fulfilled, the statement said.

Govt calls strike a failure 

ITANAGAR, Oct 11: The Government of Arunachal Pradesh today said the tools/pen down strike by Confederation of Staff Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) today evoked only partial response. 
A statement issued by the chief secretary’s office said that it was receiving reports from all heads of departments about the situation in their respective offices every two hours and it was reported that most of the offices were functioning normally.
However, some of the employees were found/reported to be on pen/tool down agitation. The list of such employees have been obtained and, accordingly proceedings to deduct one day salary has been initiated as per the principle of “no work, no pay”.
It is also informed that, on the second day of the strike, i.e., on October 12, if any Government employee is found to be participating in the agitation, Dies Non along with break in service will be initiated against the participating employee, the statement said.
In-Charge Chief Secretary Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma inspected various offices today. Mobile teams will be constituted to check the situation in various offices tomorrow also.
The Government has already declared the strike as illegal and warned the striking employees of action in case they resort to pen/tool down. It further appealed to all employees to refrain from any illegal action which may adversely affect public interest.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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