State govt employees demand hike in salaries

Mangalore, February 9: Dozens of State Government employees staged a demonstration in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner here on Wednesday, seeking the fulfilment of their various demands including immediate hike in their salary on par with the Centre's Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.

Addressing the protesters H Sanjeeva, District President the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association harshly criticised the state government for not fulfilling the demands of its employees, despite its repeated promises.

“Although we are raising our rightful demands for many years, the State Government is lending a deaf ear towards us,” he said.

Although out neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh have implemented the sixth pay commission recommendations for their employees, there is no sign of hope for the employees of Karnataka State Government, he said adding that Kerala too had decided to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission.

Prakash Naik, District General Secretary of the Association lambasted the discrimination between Central and State Government employees with regard to the house rent allowance.

“While central government employees receive 20 per cent of their basic as house rent allowance, state government employees get only 10 per cent”, he said questioning how can one justify this discrimination?

SP Chengappa, President, Mangalore Bar Association said that government should give utmost priority to fulfil the demands of farmers and government employees, who are the backbone of a country like India.

“Any state or country, where farmers and government employees are not leading a satisfactory life, cannot be considered as a developed or happy state or country”, he said.

He said most of the state government employees in Karnataka have been leading a miserable and pitiable life due to the low salary scale and lack of job security.

He also said that indifference of the State Government towards the rightful demands of its employees not only reduce their interest in work but also pave the way for corruption.

Niranjan Murthy, Treasurer of the Association, George Pinto, Vice President and Vasudeva Kamath, District Present of PU Principals Association were among those present.