Nearly after a month of barbers’ strike, the State government has prohibited strikes in essential services of departments of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam.
The government, acting upon a letter from the Kanaka Durga temple Executive Officer (EO) in June, has issued orders on Wednesday declaring that services in Kesa khandanasala department were essential services. Water works, electricity, sanitation, medical, engineering, transportation, ‘anna prasadam’, security, temple administration etc were declared as essential services under the A.P. Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1971.
The barbers working in temples went on strike following a call given by Nayee Brahmin Welfare Association on June 15, demanding a minimum salary of ₹15,000 per month and employee benefit schemes.
The government agreed to hike the tonsuring charges per head to ₹25 from ₹13.