Karnataka govt employees strike, staff skip work

MANGALURU: Routine government operations were hit in Dakshina Kannada district, as staff in most offices did not turn up on Wednesday morning. Government employees across the state decided to launch an indefinite strike, and put forth their demands before the government, including the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
However, the health sector was not affected by the strike in Dakshina Kannada. District health officer Dr Kishore Kumar M said that OPDs in all government hospitals functioned as usual.
No issues were reported. Treatment was provided to all patients in the district and taluk hospitals.
Though state government employees withdrew the indefinite strike, in the first three hours, no issues were reported.
The Wenlock District Hospital and Lady and Government Lady Goschen Hospital functioned as usual, he said.
Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Kumar said that a meeting with health officials was held in the morning, to ensure that services were not disrupted.
Mangaluru division KSRTC operations were not hit by the strike. Bus operations were 100%. The public who arrived at the taluk office, zilla panchayat office, deputy commissioner's office, and Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, had to return empty-handed. All the government staff, except officers in the deputy commissioner's office and zilla panchayat office, remained away from work. Only the outsourced employees attended their work as usual.
Government schoolteachers did not attend work, and some government schools remained closed.