Odisha ministerial staff' put en masse cease work stir from today on hold

At least 30,000 ministerial officers (Amala) under the banner of Odisha Amala Sangha who threatened to launch a cease work strike across Odisha and were set to go on mass leave demanding a raise in grade pay and other perks from the government from Wednesday has put their stir on hold.

The association threatened to launch the strike demanding a raise in their current grade of Rs 1900 to Rs 4200.

Speaking to reporters, president of State GST Amala Sangha, Chittaranjan Patnaik had said, “We had gone on a strike six months back. And we had called off our strike after 16 days following an assurance by the government. But our demands are still not met as promised by the Chief Secretary. So we are forced to go on another strike from today.”

“All the 30,000 employees from 32 departments have decided to cease work from today until our demands are met,” he said.

However, following a discussion with the State government, the association decided to put the stir on hold.

Speaking to reporters, Convenor of the Association, Chittaranjan Tarasia said, "The govt has assured us to fulfill our demands within 10 days. So we are putting the strike on hold till then."

Earlier, the Odisha Amala Sangha had put its state-wide agitation on hold on June 17, 2023, sixteen days after launching the agitation on June 1.

The association’s decision to call off the strike came following a discussion with the then 5T Secretary, VK Pandian through video conferencing at the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell who had reportedly promised them to consider their demands.

The association said they put the strike on hold even though they didn’t get any written assurance. They did so for their faith in the Chief Minister.

However, they are preparing to launch a strike again after their demands are left unmet even after six months of assurance.