Government to act tough against striking staff

HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to act tough against Telangana employees who participate in the proposed Sakalajanula Samme from Tuesday. Apart from initiating measures to ensure that essential services are not affected due to the strike, the government has asked the district authorities to strictly enforce GO 177 and take stringent action against the staff who abstain from work.Ahead of the Samme, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy along with deputy chief minister C Damodara Rajanarasimha held a meeting with the ministers and officials concerned on Monday to devise strategies to tackle the Telangana employees’ strike. The chief minister instructed the officials, including the heads of departments at the state level, district collectors and superintendents of police, to ensure that citizens of the state were not put to any inconvenience due to the proposed strike. About 7.5 lakh employees, teachers and workers in Telangana are expected to participate in the Samme demanding creation of a separate state. Teachers will participate in the Samme from September 16.According to sources, the government has fully geared up to face any eventuality, but it is reluctant to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) unless there is a total administrative breakdown in the state due to the strike by the Telangana Joint Action Committee of Employees, Teachers and Workers.The officials have also been asked not to hesitate to register criminal cases against the employees who obstruct the emergency services. As per the GO 177, the government has decided to enforce ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule to prevent the government employees from taking part in the strike.Apart from convincing the Telangana employees to attend duties, the government is also planning to use forcible tactics like initiating action, including registration of criminal cases against the employees taking part in the strike. Several departments have already been brought under the purview of ESMA. The services of contract employees are likely to be terminated if they participate in the strike. The heads of departments and various government offices have been asked to maintain an attendance record of employees who take part in the strike and submit timely reports to the state government for necessary action. If required, the officials have been instructed to run emergency services with the help of contract workers and outsourcing staff apart from roping in retired employees.The officials have been directed to ensure prompt distribution of social security pensions, fee reimbursement and payment of scholarships and implementation of other welfare schemes despite the strike. Similarly, the Civil Supplies Department has been asked to transport essential commodities well in advance. The Health Department should stock medicines in all government hospitals. “Invoking ESMA against the striking employees is the last weapon as the government does not want to give an opportunity to opposition parties to criticise it,” said a senior official in the chief minister’s office.