Approximately 45,000 contractual government employees in India went on an indefinite strike on Monday demanding regularisation, reports the Times of India. Kaushlesh Tiwari, president of Chhattisgarh Sarva Vibhagiya Samvida Karamchari Mahasangh (CSVSKM), an umbrella body of government's contractual employees organisations, said, “Serial No. 11 in the Congress election manifesto of 2018 clearly says that contractual employees will be regularised if Congress forms the government in Chhattisgarh. Barely four months are left for the next assembly elections, but our plight remains unheard. We are forced to go on strike.”

The workers will observe strike at their respective district headquarters from 3-9 July. If their demand is not fulfilled by then, contractual employees from all 33 districts will gather in the city of Naya Raipur on 10 July to continue with their indefinite strike. These 45,000 employees work in 54 government departments, including health, agriculture, education, women and child development. Contractual employees demands for regularisation means they would be provided with benefits such as job security until the age of 62 years, benefits of seniority, like salary, gratuity, promotion, social security, and old-age support pension. On 8 and 9 July, the employees will hold a meeting to write out their future course of action.