The employees and teachers of Bihar State Govt. have been on strike since 7th January 2009 and till the time of going to the press, the strike continues and has completed a fortnight. On the eve of first day of strike, a torch-light procession was held in Capital Patna and all district headquarters of Bihar on 6th January and the following day witnessed a total halt of all governmental work. According to the official report more than 90 percent employees joined the strike on very first day. A significant section of the primary teachers and all of the shiksha-mitras (para-teachers) stopped their work. During the fortnight panchayat employment assistants throughout the State also went on strike. The strike is being spearheaded by the joint front comprised of Bihar State Non-gazetted Employees Confederation (Gope faction), Bihar Secretariat Services Federation, Bihar State Non-gazetted Employees Confederation (Yogendra faction) and the Bihar State Primary Teachers' Federation.
The State employees and teachers have been forced to proceed on strike to protest the Nitish Government's vacillation in adopting the pay-pattern recommended by Sixth Pay Commission for Central Govt. employees, non-regularisation of teachers-employees working on contractual and daily wages and implementation of the terms of agreement arrived at during the 43-day strike in 2004-05. The Strike has received moral support from Bihar Policemen's Association. Even the Gazetted officials of the State meanwhile have declared to go on strike from January 21. The strike's impact can be felt even in the remotest areas of the State, with daily protests being held.
The Bihar Government issued a "no work-no pay" threat on 19 January, announcing disciplinary action against the striking employees. The employees have defied such threats and are continuing with the strike. CPI(ML) extended its full support to the strike from the very beginning and its Central and State leaders have visited the striking employees and have addressed their meetings and rallies. Comrade Dipankar addressed the mass-meeting of the striking employees in Patna on 19 January.
