CoSAAP suspends non-cooperation movement

Govt will fulfill employees’ demands when financial position is healthy: CM

ITANAGAR, Nov 12: The Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) has suspended its proposed non-cooperation movement scheduled from 19 November, following a meeting with the chief minister here on Monday.
Responding to the CoSAAP’s plea, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the salary deduction order which had been issued against a few agitating employees would be revoked.
The chief minister reiterated that the state government would address the genuine demands of the employees “as and when the state’s internal resource position is healthy.”
Pema, who held a threadbare discussion with members of the CoSAAP’s central executive body and district units, the Doctors’ Welfare Association and the Directorate Officers’ Association, informed that the matter relating to tough location allowance and house rent allowance for the state government employees as per the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendation would be discussed in the cabinet and a decision would be taken based on the state’s internal resource position.
The chief minister said the development process in the state had been very slow in the past with centralization of powers adversely affecting its growth.
“The state government is now gradually decentralizing powers and ensuring that developmental activities are uniformly undertaken in all the sectors,” he said.
Acknowledging the hard work put in by the state government employees, “which has resulted in increased revenue generation and growth in almost all the sectors,” Pema called for collective effort to push the state to newer heights.
He said the state has enormous potential which could be tapped with the right people in the right places.
“For this, collective effort needs to be put in by the government, its employees and the people,” he said.
“Presently the state is completely dependent on the Centre for all its needs. We need to work out a robust mechanism to make the state self-reliant,” the chief minister said.
He asked the CoSAAP to observe restraint and avoid taking steps that would disturb smooth functioning of governance and disrupt service delivery to the people.
“Continue the good work and our government will ensure that whatever benefits the employees deserve will certainly be awarded from time to time,” the chief minister said.
The CoSAAP in its representation to the CM lauded the commendable steps initiated by the state government. It extended gratitude for upgrading 1,535 constables to head constables at one go, and for promoting many senior doctors as DMOs.
The CoSAAP also thanked the CM for increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years for all government employees.
Stating that the CoSAAP had no intention whatsoever to confront the state government but was in fact always ready to work with renewed spirit to take the state to newer heights, it requested the government to grant tough location allowance and house rent allowance as per the 7th CPC recommended rates. (CMO)