Team News Riveting
Raipur, September 2
The indefinite strike called by the Chhattisgarh employees and officials in support of their two-point demands was called off Friday afternoon.
Under the banner of Chhattisgarh Employees-Officers Federation, over 450,000 employees and officials resorted to indefinite strike from August 22. The employees were demanding 34 percent dearness allowance (DA), house rent allowance and seventh pay scale at par with the central government. At present, they are getting 22 per cent DA.
The state government had offered to talk to the employees only after they called off the strike. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel appealed to the Federation to call off the strike. He later hinted at stringent action that propelled a section of employees to return to work.
Fearing split in the Federation, the office bearers met Thursday and authorised the core group to take a final decision even as majority was to continue with the indefinite strike. On Friday, the core group members had a meeting with Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey. After assurance from Baghel, the Federation announced to call off the strike. It continued for 12 days.
According to Federation leaders, the Chief Minister had assured to three per cent DA from Diwali besides depositing the arrears in the general provident fund account. A committee would be constituted to look into the demand of house rent allowance.
