DA arrears, OPS: Punjab braces for ‘Maha Hartal’ by government employees on Thursday

Government employees in Punjab are set to embark on a significant protest known as the "Maha Hartal" on Thursday. This strike, organized by the Sanjha Mulazam Manch and Sanjha Mulazam and Pensioners Front, comes after numerous demands including the release of delayed Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears and the restoration of an old pension scheme.

Despite these demands, the government employees will proceed with the strike, which is anticipated to disrupt various government departments. The principal demand relates to the overdue DA payments, which employee unions claim have been unpaid since January 2023. Currently, the government provides 42% DA to state employees, significantly lower than the 60% offered to central government employees and neighboring Haryana's.

The state government has been directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to release the pending DA, but the deadline has passed, and a contempt petition is pending in the court. The strike is limited to government departments, meaning markets, highways, and private establishments are expected to function normally. The organizers include employees from around 23 Deputy Commissioner offices, 78 tehsil offices, 40 directorates, and the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh.

The agitation has garnered support from farmer organizations like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, as well as the BJP, Congress, and SAD. The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has also joined the agitation, with doctors expected to provide emergency services during the strike. Students and teachers in government-run schools are also anticipated to participate in the protest, with a significant number of educators planning to take mass casual leave.

The functioning of state-run schools may be affected, with over one lakh teachers potentially joining the strike. The coordination committee of the Sanjha Mulazam Manch and the Sanjha Mulazam and Pensioners Front is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh on Thursday afternoon, along with representatives of the Purani Pension Bahali Sanjha Morcha.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments left Rs 14,161 crore in DA arrears, while the AAP government has paid around Rs 5,000-6,000 crore, with the remaining to be released soon.