Karnataka : After police, six lakh state employees threaten mass leave
FollowIt seems to be a season of “mass leaves” in Karnataka. After the police force, which has announced that over 50,000 police men will go on mass leave to protest on poor pays, now some 5 lakh government employees and over 1.5 lakh drivers and conductors of BMTC and KSRTC have also announced their plans to go on leave.
The Karnataka State Government Employee’s Association has announced that more than five lakh state government employees will go on leave from June 2 demanding a hike in salaries.
State government employees lament that the salary difference between salaries between a D group employee of the State and Centre is 111.33%.
Joining the stir is also the 1.5 lakh drivers and conductors of BMTC and KSRTC, who have said that they will go on mass leave in the first week of June. The BMTC and KSRTC drivers and conductors claim that their salaries has not been revised in the last four years.
The employees association has already approached the government and submitted their appeal including the request for an increase in salary. But the government has not responded to their appeal. The association has said that it is government’s responsibility to consider our appeal.
“Rates of the commodities are increasing every day. If they don’t revise our salaries at least once in 4 years life would be difficult for us. If asked, they say that we are running under loss. But how come it is possible that all other departments are revising their salaries in spite of loss?,” a BMTC conductor said.
Earlier this week, Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha representing the police announced that over 50,000 police personnel will go on ‘mass leave’ on June 4 to protest against the poor salary, harassment by senior officers in the name of discipline, improper leave structure, and other issues.
