HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, July 9: The Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) staged a peaceful dharna at the Tennis Court in IG Park, Itanagar, on Wedenesday, in solidarity with the nationwide protest called by the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF).
The agitation was organised to press for a series of long-standing demands related to the rights and welfare of government employees.
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According to an official statement issued by CoSAAP, the demonstration saw widespread participation from various state government employee unions and associations.
It was part of a coordinated national effort aimed at drawing the attention of the central government towards unresolved issues affecting lakhs of employees across the country.
One of the primary demands raised during the protest was the immediate constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission to ensure timely revision of salaries and service benefits.
The employees also called for the repeal of the PFRDA Act, 2013 and 2015, and demanded the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, which they argued provides better financial security for government employees post-retirement.
CoSAAP further urged the government to release 18 months of pending Dearness Allowance (DA), which had been withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also sought regularisation of all contractual and contingency workers employed in various departments, arguing that many of these workers have been serving for years without proper job security or benefits.
The protest also raised concerns over the ongoing trend of privatisation and corporatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and the downsizing of government departments, which the employee bodies claimed is adversely affecting service delivery and long-term employment prospects.
Addressing the gathering, CoSAAP leaders warned that if the central government continues to delay action on these critical demands, the agitation could escalate in the coming months.
They called upon both the state and central governments to respond to the employees’ grievances in a time-bound and constructive manner.
The dharna concluded peacefully, with participants passing a resolution to continue their struggle through democratic means.
Similar protests and demonstrations were also reported from various district headquarters and administrative units across Arunachal Pradesh, reflecting the widespread support for the movement among government employees.
