Punjab government employees and pensioners staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office at the Mini Secretariat in Faridkot on Tuesday, burning an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and raising slogans against the state government over several long-pending demands.
The demonstration was organized following a call by the Joint Coordination Committee, comprising the Punjab Employees and Pensioners Joint Front and the Joint Employees Forum.
Employee and pensioner representatives accused the Mann government of adopting policies they described as detrimental to government workers and retirees. They claimed the current administration had gone further than previous governments in taking decisions against their interests.
Among their key demands is the implementation of a court ruling concerning Dearness Allowance. Protesters are also seeking restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, implementation of the 2.59 pay multiplier, regularization of contractual employees and acceptance of demands raised by various scheme workers.
The leaders further alleged that several government departments were introducing rules that negatively affected employees and accused the state government of failing to address their concerns.
As part of an escalation in their campaign, the Joint Coordination Committee announced a state-level rally at Chief Minister Mann’s native village of Satoj on August 23. The demonstration will focus particularly on the demand to restore the Old Pension Scheme.
The organizations have also called on Punjab government employees to take mass casual leave on August 27. Organizers said the action is intended to disrupt government operations and support a proposed statewide Punjab Bandh.
A large number of employees, pensioners and representatives of various organizations participated in Tuesday’s Faridkot demonstration, with leaders warning that their agitation would intensify unless the state government addresses their demands.
