PUNE, March 12: Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today indicated that the government would soon introduce a legislation to counter the threats of strikes and agitations during the period of examinations in the State.Speaking to media persons after the inauguration of the Consumer Welfare Awareness workshop organised by the State Government at Shiv Shankar Sabhagriha here, Joshi pointed out that it was contemptible that despite the fact that the Government had conceded to the chief demand of the non-teaching staff on the issue of pay hike, they continued to agitate at a time that would cause untold misery and hardship to students appearing for HSC examinations.
The government has already allocated Rs 5.5-cr towards the hike in pay-scales of the non-teaching staff which would cause an additional burden to the exchequer, he said adding that although he had taken this decision without placing a proposal before the cabinet, it was surprising that non-teaching staff were unwilling to relent.
TheChief Minister still seemed to be open to the idea of holding talks with striking lot emphasising that he did not consider it a prestige issue when the matter concerned the welfare of students. Joshi said his govt had already succeeded in putting an end to such agitations in the BMMC.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
