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Maharashtra government work hit as lakhs of staff begin 3-day strike (Lead)
Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) The functioning of government offices across Maharashtra was hit on Tuesday as around 17 lakh state employees launched a three-day strike over their pending demands, including implementation of the 7th Pay Commission report.
This, despite the fact that the state government on Monday night adopted a tough stand and invoked the MESMA (Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act). It warned of strict disciplinary action and salary cuts against those who failed to report for duty.
Simultaneously, it also announced the payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) for 14 months to 150,000 gazetted officers with the August salaries, who withdrew from the three-day agitation.
The strike’s impact was felt in the offices of all government departments, which remained largely deserted, virtually paralysing all routine work, with barely five per cent attendance in the Mantralaya, the state government seat at Nariman Point.
Besides, work in government schools, colleges, technical institutes, hospitals, health centres in urban and rural centres was also affected, hitting the poor and senior citizen patients hard.
Most government-run hospitals, including the Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals in Mumbai and other cities, postponed all scheduled surgeries and only performed emergency procedures in the absence of doctors, nursing, other paramedic and support staff.
An official of the Maharashtra State Employees Organisation (MSEO) said that all employees from Mantralaya right up to the taluka levels across all government departments joined the strike.
“We had served the notice for strike on July 16. But since there was no response from the government, we went ahead with the agitation. It has been a 100 per cent success,” MSEO President Milind Sardeshmukh claimed.
Maharashtra Government Employees Union General Secretary Avinash Daund questioned why the government was delaying the issue when an announcement to implement the 7th Pay Commission has already been made as well and the budgetary provision for it made.
At several places in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other important cities, the employees held protest marches or dharnas while raising slogans and asking the state government to immediately concede their demands.
The MSEO has accused the state government of sitting on its demands, including the implementation of the Pay Commission report, which was to be made effective from January 1, 2016.
However, later it dilly-dallied that it was awaiting the K.P. Bakshi Committee report on the matter as implementing the Pay Commission recommendations will entail an additional burden of Rs 21,000 crore on the debt-hit state.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said the government would implement the 7th Pay Commission report from January 2019 and a budgetary provision of Rs 10,000 crore was made in the last state Budget.
However, the employees’ organizations apprehend that in case the general elections are announced by then, the model code of conduct would be enforced and their wait could drag on much longer.
The other major demands of the striking staff include implementation of a five-day week in all government offices, increasing retirement age from 58 to 60 and filling up over 200,000 vacancies.
The unions made it clear that they will not settle for “mere assurances” but only direct action from the government, since the strike was deferred several times in the past few years on such promises.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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