Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday that the majority of government employees had rejected the strike call made by pro-Opposition service organisations.
Addressing a press conference here, the Minister said that roughly 55.77 per cent of government employees in the State had reported for duty on Tuesday. The attendance was 45 per cent in the State Secretariat, 86.7 per cent in the Finance Secretariat, 60.6 per cent in the Law Secretariat and 65 per cent in the Legislature Secretariat. The attendance was least in Pathanamthitta district (32 per cent) and highest in Palakkad district (59 per cent). About 58 per cent of the employees reported for duty at the University of Kerala and 47 per cent at the Public Service Commission (PSC) Office.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said that the KSRTC had operated 53 per cent of the schedules (2608 out of 4900 schedules). The strike was peaceful, but for a few isolated incidents. At revenue tower in Kothamagalam and PSC office in Thiruvananthapuram, attempts had been made to prevent employees from entering the offices. However, police provided necessary protection to the employees and filed cases against those who obstructed employees. At two places, local people had forced the opening of village offices. A sub treasury and district treasury too had to open under similar circumstances.
He noted that none of the serving government employees were affected by the government decision to introduce contributory pension scheme. The government was willing to discuss issues like the investment strategy for the pension fund with the employees.
The Minister said that he hoped that the CPI (M) would not resort to violence as part of the blockade of the Secretariat and the district collectorates planned by it on Wednesday. People of Kerala, who had seen much violence recently, should not be subjected more violence.
He said that the government was taking all precautions to prevent violent incidents. Surveillance cameras would be used at the Secretariat and collectorates for the purpose. He reminded that courts were functioning at the civil stations in nine districts and the High Court had ordered that the functioning of courts should not be disrupted by agitations.
He said that the police had contacted camps of workers from others States in Kerala to inform them that they were being provided with adequate security and dispel their concerns. Asked about intelligence reports about the activities of Popular Front of India (PFI), the Minister said that that Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) T P Sen Kumar would be take appropriate action in coordination with the Centre.
