Revenue officials in Coimbatore, Salem districts join indefinite strike

COIMBATORE/SALEM: Revenue department officials and other staff members in Coimbatore and Salem districts joined a state-wide indefinite strike called by the Federation of Revenue Department Associations. The federation began the indefinite strike on Tuesday to press for its demands including regularisation of wages at all levels and filling of vacancies. Most revenue offices in the districts remained deserted as employees stayed away from work. Election preparations and routine administrative activities came to a standstill due to the strike.The striking revenue staff members held a protest on the Coimbatore collectorate premises. A sit-in protest was held at the taluk office in Salem city. More than 500 revenue officials, led by Tamil Nadu Revenue Department Officers Association state vice-president Arthanari, participated in the protest in Salem.Around 1,100 revenue staff members are employed in the Coimbatore district in various postings, including tahsildars and village administrative officers. Federation district secretary Syed Hussain the strike was originally scheduled to start on Feb 19. “But we postponed it, considering the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work. We have been working tirelessly for the SIR, and yet our rightful demands are getting denied. That's when we decided to go on an indefinite strike."