The recent strikes done by the government employees in Rajasthan are likely to create trouble for the Raje-led BJP government in the upcoming assembly polls. The protests are demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, rectifying the discrepancies in grade pay, promotions and other welfare scheme for employees. If these demands are not fulfilled, the protestors have threatened the government with serious repercussions in elections.
Earlier this month there were protests by the various departments of government. State electricity department employees were upset over the suspension of their colleagues, the employees from Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) were also on protest which disrupted the commute of people and causes a huge loss of revenue for the department.
Education sector and rural development sector also came to a halt. While 50,000 teachers protested at Ramlila Maidan in Jaipur over implementation of a new pension scheme wherein a part of employee’s salary will be invested in share markets through certain agencies, the Block Development officers (BDOs) were on mass leave for more than a week apparently demanding better service conditions and a proper channel of promotion.
Accusing the opposition for the strikes, the state agriculture minister, Prabhu Lal Saini said, “They are evoking sentiments of government employees. We are ready to agree to agree on their practical and legal demands but if they ask for moon we are helpless”. He said the opposition wants to turn the state into “Hartalistan”.
However, the Congress charged the government for not listening to the demands of its employees. While congress leader Ashok Gehlot had accused the CM of paying no heed to the needs of employees and spending state funds for her own good of the party, Sachin Pilot, the congress state party chief said. “Here, not only government employees but the common public is suffering. But this government is busy in taking out ‘Gaurav Yatra’. There’s no one to listen to their plight”.
In the previous regime of Congress in 2000, similar strikes had occurred, where the employees went on a 64 day strike demanding bonus and an extra installment of dearness allowances.