Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Justin D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (SS/EP)
Mangaluru/Udupi, Mar 1: The state government employees have resorted to indefinite protests from Wednesday March 1 for their various demands following calls from their union. The heat of the protests has touched Dakshina Kannada district and government services were unavailable for ordinary people.
Government services at Mangaluru City Corporation, government schools and colleges, Mescom, town panchayats, local bodies, revenue department and the government hospital were affected. Outpatient services were not available at Government Wenlock hospital and the Lady Goshen hospital. Doctors and health officials were wearing black badges and attending to patients needing emergency care and inpatients.
Mangaluru
Udupi
People who were unaware of the non-availability of services were seen arriving at the corporation office and going back.
Though government services had come to a standstill, government buses were running as usual. As KSRTC bus services were not affected, people travelling for their needs did not face hardship. KSRTC officials said that they did not support the protests as theirs is a corporation.
As government school and college teachers joined hands in the protests, they were closed today. The examinations for degree classes are postponed due to the protests, said Mangalore University chancellor (administration) Prof Kishore Kumar P K.
The protests are being held concerning failure to announce the revision of salaries for government workers in the state budget and urging for cancellation of the new pension scheme. All the government employees who expressed their support for the protests have failed to come to their offices and remained in their residences.
The state government employees strike has hit Udupi district as well. Services rendered by revenue, health and transport departments have hit the public hard.
Employees working in deputy commissioner's office, zilla panchayat and taluk offices have struck work and have absented themselves from carrying out routine governmental work.
In government hospitals, only emergency services are available. Regional transport offices are closed.
Exams for undergraduate courses conducted by the Mangalore University have been put off.
The state government employees are on a strike and are ensuring that workers do not enter the offices. However, no protests or marches are being held.
Gram panchayat offices are also not functioning as employees have not turned up for work. Similar is the case in CMC and TMC offices.
Employees who are desirous of working have been asked to support the shutdown announced by the government staff, according to Udupi district government workers association president A Dinakar Shetty.