OPS becomes talking point in poll-bound Karnataka as government staff call for strike over 7th Pay Commission

The meeting was held as two of their major demands did not find a mention in the 2023 fiscal budget of the Karnataka government, which was presented by the chief minister on 17 February.

The government employees also demanded the Bommai government implement an interim report from the 7th Pay Commission and at least a 40-percent pay hike from 1 July, 2022, before the Model Code of Conduct for the polls was imposed in the state.

The association submitted a 65-page report seeking the revision of their salaries and allowances.

A delegation led by KSGEA president CS Shadakshari submitted the report to the government and also urged it to fill up the vacant government jobs.

The government employees demanded that the government fulfil their demands related to the wages at the earliest, threatening to boycott work and go for a statewide indefinite strike from 1 March, 2023.

Shadakshari told South First: “If the government fails to fulfil our demands in the next two days, all the government employees will go on an indefinite strike from 1 March. Government servants from all the departments, including education, will boycott work and take part in the protest across the state.”

He added: “We have asked only the employees working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and emergency medical services to continue their work. We will remain absent from work until the government fulfils our demands.”

He also said: “There are two main demands of the government employees. The first is that the Karnataka government has to implement the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, and the second is that it should abolish the New Pension Scheme and implement the OPS at the earliest,” stated Shadakshari.

On Bommai’s assurances of implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, Shadakshari said: “The chief minister has assured only orally that the government would implement the interim recommendations. We will not believe it till the government issues a written order on it. Similarly, the government should also implement OPS.”

“The OPS has already been announced in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. The Karnataka government must follow in the footsteps of these five states and announce OPS [Old Pension Scheme] for its employees. We will continue to protest until justice is served,” cautioned Shadakshari.

Pressure on government

The Bommai government is under severe pressure from its employees to fulfil their demands, ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls.

Bommai constituted the 7th Pay Commission to revise the salary of government employees in November 2022.

Stating that his government was committed to implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, Bommai told reporters: “We have already constituted a commission under the headship of former chief secretary Sudhakar Rao. I have sought an interim report from the commission in March.”

He added: “Based on the interim report, we will take necessary steps to implement the 7th Pay Commission. We will implement the interim report by the end of March.”

He further said: “Our government has made a budgetary allocation of ₹6,000 crore for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. If we need more funds, we will make the necessary financial allocations.”

Bommai, however, said about the OPS implementation demand: “We should look into the financial condition of the government, too.”

There are over 8 lakh government employees working in various departments. Among them, around 3.5 lakh employees in Karnataka do not come under OPS.

Retired employee dies by suicide

Siddaiah Hiermath, a 67-year-old resident of Pattadakalu in the Bagalkot district, died by suicide during the protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on 25 February.

Siddaiah was a retired teacher from an aided school in Bagalkot. He is survived by a wife and four children.

He took part in the protest demanding that the Karnataka government implement the OPS for the employees of aided schools.

He was upset at the government for not fulfilling their demands.

The on-duty cops rushed him to the Victoria Hospital, but he could not be saved.

According to sources, “When the members of aided schools and colleges employees’ association met the Karnataka chief minister, demanding the implementation of the OPS, Bommai made it clear to them it was impossible.”

The family members of the deceased staged a protest in front of the Bagalkot district administration demanding justice for the retired teacher.

Congress, AAP assure Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in Karnataka

With the Assembly polls nearing, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have promised the government employees of implementing the Old Pension Scheme if their respective party comes to power.

Congress leaders, including KPCC president DK Shivakumar, announced support to the government employees for their protest against the state government for the implementation of OPS and the 7th Pay Commission at Freedom Park recently.