Patna, Oct. 13: The non-gazetted employees of the state government, who are on strike, have decided to appeal to the governor to fulfil their demands.

A joint delegation of representatives of Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees’ Federation and Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees’ Federation (Gope faction) would submit a memorandum to the governor on October 14.

A source said the employees had taken this decision after losing all hope of being heard by the state government.

Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees’ Federation honorary president Manjul Kumar Das told The Telegraph: “We are hopeful the governor will listen to our demands and direct the state government to take appropriate steps.”

Members of both unions had submitted a memorandum to chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi during his visit to Bhagalpur on October 5.

Das said: “We requested him to look into our demands. He gave us a patient hearing.”

Over two lakh employees have been on strike since August 23. They are demanding salaries for the period of the 34-day strike earlier this year. They are also demanding transport allowance for employees working outside Patna and house rent allowance on par with the central government employees.

The employees are also demanding the implementation of the new pay-scale from January 1, 2006 and not April 1, 2007, as offered by the state government. Similarly they are demanding the new scale for gratuity and pension benefits from January 1, 2006 as opposed to September 1, 2007.

Five rounds of talks have been held between the employees and the chief secretary, the last on October 5. However, no agreement could be reached.

Around 2000 FIRs have been lodged against the employees for not accepting election-training letters and for obstructing government work.

Das said: “We are ready to accept the consequences of our action. However, we shall not agree to anything less than an honourable agreement.”