Sindh Professors and Subject Specialist Association (SPSSA) under the auspices of Sindh Employees Alliance (SEA) took to the streets to record the protests against pension cuts by the government. Their other demands comprise the provision of Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) which have been granted to other provinces; withdrawal of notifications regarding Group Insurance and Benevolent Fund which are the hallmarks of government service; and hike in salaries on a par with other departments.
There is little doubt that pension is a lifeline for government employees and divesting them of their last sanctuary for which they have devoted their entire lives is a disrespect to their cadre and service, based on years of unimaginable labour and strenuous efforts. The apathy of the authorities towards the employees’ protest is akin to rubbing salt in their wounds.
It’s high time the government took immediate notice of the underlying causes of these strikes and nip the evil in the bud. Dilly-dallying on the part of the government must end once and for all. The protesting government employees that are already bearing the brunt of the back-breaking inflation anxiously await government action. Anything other than negotiation would lead to severe implications.
S Hamza
Hyderabad
