Chandigarh: Punjab is set to witness a large-scale government employees’ strike on Thursday, August 27, with more than three lakh government employees and around four lakh pensioners expected to participate in the one-day protest over a range of pending demands.
The strike has been called by the Sanjha Mulazim Manch Punjab and UT. Government services are expected to be affected across the state, including work at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, schools, Patwar Khanas, hospital outpatient departments and other government offices.
However, union leaders have made it clear that the protest should not be mistaken for a statewide shutdown or ‘Punjab Bandh’.
Markets and Private Establishments to Remain Open
Sukhchain Singh Khaira, president of the Sanjha Mulazim Manch, said there would be no road blockades or ‘chakka jam’ during the protest.
Private establishments, shops and markets are expected to function as usual. The general public will also be free to travel, as the employees’ unions have ruled out any attempt to stop traffic or disrupt movement.
Khaira appealed to residents to avoid visiting government offices on August 27 since employees participating in the strike will remain away from work.
Government Schools and Hospital OPDs Likely to Be Affected
As government employees stay away from duty, several public services could face disruption.
Government schools are expected to remain closed or have their regular functioning affected. Similarly, outpatient services at government hospitals may not operate normally because employees associated with the strike will be on mass leave.
Revenue-related work at Patwar Khanas and routine administrative work at government offices are also likely to remain suspended for the day.
The impact on essential services, however, will depend on the participation of employees in individual departments.
Employees Asked Not to Submit Bills to Treasury
The union has also issued instructions concerning treasury-related work.
Khaira said departments have been advised not to send bills to treasury offices either on August 27 or on the preceding day, as treasury employees are also expected to participate in the strike.
He said the unions have taken steps to ensure that the protest does not create unnecessary inconvenience for the public and urged people to plan government-related work accordingly.
SIR Employees Also Expected to Join Protest
According to Khaira, the union has formally communicated with the Election Commission regarding employees engaged in Special Summary Revision (SIR) duties.
The union has maintained that these employees will also observe mass leave on August 27 and has requested that they should not be compelled to report for duty during the strike.
Government Effigies to Be Burnt at District Level
Sunil Kumar, chief adviser to the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union, said government offices would remain non-functional during the protest.
He added that demonstrations would be organised at the district level, where effigies of the state government would be burnt as part of the protest.
The employees’ organisations have accused the Punjab government of delaying action on their outstanding demands and said the one-day strike is intended to put pressure on the administration.
DA Not the Main Issue
Khaira clarified that Dearness Allowance (DA) is not the principal issue behind the strike.
According to him, employees have already obtained favourable court orders concerning DA and believe the government is legally bound to implement them. The unions now want the government to take concrete steps to enforce those orders.
CM Bhagwant Mann Meeting Scheduled
The protest is also taking place against the backdrop of a proposed meeting between the employees’ joint front and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on August 27.
Khaira said the meeting is expected to cover the broader set of demands raised by government employees rather than being restricted to any single issue.
Thus, while August 27 is likely to disrupt a wide range of government services in Punjab, it is not being observed as a statewide bandh. Markets, private businesses, highways and general public movement are expected to continue normally, while people seeking government services have been advised to postpone their visits.
