Port Blair, July 26: In support of the Parliament March held in New Delhi by central government employees’ organizations today, on the 14-point Charter of Demands, the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is affiliated to the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, New Delhi, has organized a Mass Dharna from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Secretariat gate at Port Blair. Inaugurating the Mass Dharna at a well-attended function, Mr. KG Das, former General Secretary of the Association said that the central government is pushing through various anti-employee policies. He said that the introduction of the New Pension Scheme was a great blow on the fate of lakhs of government employees who joined service after 1.1.2004. Mr. B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU, A & N State Committee, Mr. Mohammed Raza, former President of the Association, Mr. Sadanand Rai, Vice President and Mr. TS Sreekumar, Assistant General Secretary of the Association also addressed the gathering. A large number of government employees and workers from different departments under the Administration participated in the Mass Dharna.
In the evening, addressing the participants in the Mass Dharna and others who were present at the Secretariat Gate, Mr. D. Ayyappan, General Secretary of the Association, quoting from leaders of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, New Delhi, that thousands of central government employees marched through the Parliament Street in New Delhi today. He said that it was announced in the Parliament March in New Delhi that central government employees and workers throughout the country will go on a one-day strike on 12th December, 2012 in support of the 14-point charter of demands. He said that campaign among the government employees and workers in a wider way will be carried out by the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association in these islands from till 12th December, 2012.
The local demands highlighted during the Mass Dharna are to extend the upgraded Grade Pay for the left-out categories of teachers/miscellaneous teachers viz., H.M., PETs, Librarians, CIs, PSRTs etc. Upgradation of Grade Pay for LGCs and HGCs and Immediate Restructuring of Forest Clerical Cadre, Amalgamated Stenographic Cadre and Amalgamated Statistical Cadre, etc.
