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Government offices across Tamil Nadu wore a deserted look on Wednesday as employees launched an indefinite strike to press their 19-point charter of demands, including Diwali bonus.
Though transport unions had also called for a simultaneous strike, early reports said there was not much of a response.
The striking employees could be seen gathered near their offices and discussing their future plans.
The state government has adopted a carrot-and-stick policy by granting a four per cent increase in dearness allowance, which was frozen last year owing to fiscal distress, but also warned of cracking down on the striking employees under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Earlier on Monday, the government had announced a minimum 8.33 per cent bonus for transport and civil supplies staff ahead of Diwali.
The employees had agitated last year too on the issue of bonus, but Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had refused to buckle. The strike had fizzled out after some promises were made about paying bonus in the future.
The striking employees claim that those promises were not honoured.
More reports from Tamil Nadu
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