Patna: The Grade III and Grade IV employees have been protesting since May 25 the government's decision to transfer Grade III and Grade IV employees of government health facilities en masse.

The employees protesting at Gardanibagh under the banner of Bihar Medical and Public Health Employees Association have said if the government does not respond favourably, they might go on an indefinite strike.

"The state government had earlier issued a notification as per which no department can resort to transfer posting of more than 10 per cent of its workforce in any one department in a year. The health department is not following the directive," said district convener of Bihar Medical and Public Health Employees Association, Dinesh Kumar. "The Grade III and Grade IV employees are being transferred even without deciding about their seniority. We would be forced to resort to strike if the government does not pay heed to our demand."

Dinesh said as of now, the association had decided to stage a protest till May 31. "After May 31, we will take a stand on whether to go on the indefinite strike or not," he added.

The association also demanded that pending payments of the Grade III and Grade IV employees be cleared off immediately. "There are many who have not received their salaries from November to February and there has been no initiative on the behalf of the department to clear the dues. We have met the senior officials of the department but to no avail. Our demand is to immediately clear the pending salaries," said Devendra Prasad Singh, who also took part in the protest at Gardanibagh on Sunday.

The general secretary of the association, Shashikant Rai, sought uniformity in the transfer of Grade III and Grade IV employees.

"The senior officials of the department have not been transferred for years. Then how is it fair for the department to opt for the mass transfer of Grade III and Grade IV employees? There should also be mass transfer of the senior authorities of the department," said Rai.