Assam employees agitate over new pay scale

GUWAHATI - More than 450,000 state government employees in Assam Wednesday launched the first phase of their agitation with a three-hour demonstration to press their demand that their new pay scale be made effective from January 2006.

The Sadou Assam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), the apex forum of employees unions in Assam, staged the statewide protest from 12 noon Wednesday, paralysing normal functioning in government offices.

The SAKP is demanding that the new pay scale be made effective from January 2006 instead of the government’s decision to implement the pay commission recommendations effective from April 2009.

“We shall further intensify our agitation with the next phase of protest on Jan 16, with a daylong pen-down strike planned,” said Basav Kalita, leader of the SAKP.

“We shall bring the functioning of the state government to a total halt if we don’t get a positive response from the chief minister,” he added.

The SAKP is also demanding a flat three percent increment instead of the government’s decision to provide them two percent increment and another one percent based on performance.

“There would be discrepancies if there is an increment based on performance and we want a three percent increment flat for all the employees,” Kalita said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has termed the agitation as unjustified.

“We have already set up a committee to look into any anomalies and grievances. There is now no justification in resorting to any form of agitation,” the chief minister said.