Employees of 41 sewa kendras go on strike over unpaid dues
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The employees, hired on contract by a private company, alleged that their June salaries were paid only on July 29, and even then, Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,200 had been deducted without explanation. Gurpreet Singh, president of the Sewa Kendra Union, Ludhiana, said that the strike was a result of repeated delays and lack of transparency.
Each day, the Mini Secretariat Sewa Kendra handles 400 to 500 applications, while other centres process 100 to 150 applications.
With counters unmanned during the protest, thousands of applications were left pending. By evening, the protest was called off after the company assured employees that salaries would be paid by August 10, and the deducted amounts would be reimbursed. Employees resumed work following the assurance.
Meanwhile, residents visiting the centres were left frustrated. Mandeep Singh from Haibowal, who came to apply for a bank-related document, said his time and travel expenses were wasted. Atma Singh, who needed to renew his driving licence, also returned disappointed. Another applicant, who took leave from work to correct Aadhaar details, said that his leave was wasted as the centre was non-functional.
Employees expressed concern that the pressure would continue even after the strike, as the civic body pushes to meet property tax targets and other deadlines.
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