Kerala government on Friday decided to invoke the Essential Services Maintainance Act (ESMA) to deal with the indefinite strike by government employees and teachers which entered the third day paralysing the official machinery.
“We cannot remain passive spectator any longer considering the difficulties faced by the public on account of the strike, especially in essential services. Sterner action would be taken against the striking employees from Monday in departments declared as essential services, Chief minister A K Antony told reporters in Thiruvanathapuram after a cabinet meeting. Reports from across the state said there was marginal increase in attendance in government offices. Isolated incidents of altercation between strike supporters and the public were also reported.
While appealing to the government staff to withdraw the anti-people stir, the chief minister said
Criticising the irresponsible attitude' of the secretariat staff, he said government would decide on Feb 11, the next course of action to be taken against those who were on strike. Government was prepared to meet anyone to discuss the issue, but it would not be in a position to concede to impossible demands, he said. Government was thinking of alternative arrangements to conduct SSLC exams and the assembly session would be held from March 1 as scheduled, he said.
Bureau Report