Guwahati, Nov. 28: Dispur’s alleged lack of concern for its disabled employees is forcing them to hit the streets at a time when the government is tomtoming its avowed goal of creating the best employment opportunities for the disabled.

The employees will go on an indefinite strike from next month to protest the alleged failure of the government to give concessions and benefits on the lines of their central government counterparts.

The adviser of State Govt Disabled Employee’s Pari-shad, Jagadish Chandra Sarma, told The Telegraph that though the Centre’s 6th Pay Commission had provided disability allowance of Rs 1,000 per month, the Assam Pay Commission only granted Rs 500 per month.

He said unlike their central government counterparts, the state government employees were not receiving any transportation allowance and allowance for the education of their children.

“We get Rs 500 as childcare allowance till the child reaches 2 years. The allowance, however, is given only to a girl child, which is not fair. The Parishad has demanded allowance for both genders till they reach 18 or lifelong in case of prolonged disability,” Sarma said.

He said the government has scrapped the earlier provision of providing separate house rent allowances for the spouses. The Parishad has strongly demanded the government to restore the house rents for the spouses of disabled employees.

Sarma said the disabled employees were keen on working like any other employee and the only thing they want was certain privileges to overcome their disabilities. He said since the government had not responded positively, the Parishad has no other option but to go on a strike.

“If the government doesn’t chalk out a road map and assures us that it would concede to our demands within this year, we will be forced to go on an indefinite strike,” he said.

Chief minister Tarun Gog-oi, while inaugurating a career fair for the disabled in the city last week, said his government was committed to create the best job opportunities for people with disabilities.

The fair, supported by the department of social welfare and directorate of employment and craftsmen training, brought together 25 companies representing telecommunications, insurance, retail, manufacturing, consultancy firms, IT, cosmetics and fast moving consumer goods.

“The Parishad submitted memoranda to Governor J.B. Patnaik and the chief minister in May and demanded their intervention into the various demands of disabled employees. It is unfortunate that both have failed to give any positive response. The Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad, an apex body of government employees, has also not co-operated,” Sarma said.