Ladakh employees protest, demand special allowance

Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, June 29:  A large number of Government employees held massive protest demonstration and projected the demand of  12.5 % special duty allowance (SDA) at par with the Central Government employees.
The employees from various departments under the banner of  State Government Employees Association (SGEA), Leh assembled at Polo Ground  here and under the leadership of  Tashi Chospel and strongly condemned the step motherly attitude of the State Government towards  the employees posted in Ladakh region.  Giving ultimatum to State Government , president of the Association said that if the demand is not fulfilled, the employees  will go on indefinite strike from July 10. Despite the assurance given by Finance Minister in presence of Minister Nawang  Rigzin Jora, the promise was not fulfilled.
Mr Chospel appealed all the employees  posted in Ladakh region to get united for their common cause. The agitating employees struck work and shouted slogans against the Government and in support of their demands.
Later, the employees marched up to the Council Secretarit  and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the Chief Executive Councillor Leh projecting their demands.
Other prominent trade union leaders from Ladakh including  Mohd Ayub and Ms Norzin Angmo (vice president) also addressed the large gathering.