Employees of the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat have issued a warning of escalating their protest if their arrears for revised pay scales and dearness allowance (DA) are not released soon. The employees had set a deadline for the government, demanding that talks with their leaders be initiated by Thursday, 22 August 2024.
The employees have expressed their frustration with the government’s failure to address their demands, stating that they are prepared to take further action. Should the government fail to respond, the employees plan to convene a general meeting on 23 August, followed by a mass casual leave as a form of protest.
The employees have raised concerns over the government’s allocation of funds. They pointed out that significant amounts have been spent on furnishing offices for ministers and officers, as well as on new construction projects, while their own arrears remain unpaid.
Further expenditures were highlighted, including Rs 50 lakh on the offices of two ministers and Rs 19 crore approved for the construction of the chief minister’s office. Additionally, the demolition of the historic Metropole building and the planned Rs 100 crore expenditure on a new MLA hostel have also been cited as examples of the government’s financial priorities.
The employees are demanding that their issues be addressed with the same urgency, questioning the delay in meeting their rightful entitlements.
