Pen-down protest freezes everyday life in Ludhiana

Ludhiana: The indefinite strike by Seva Kendra employees intensified at the District Administrative Complex, further disrupting public service operations across the district. Striking workers are ramping up their demands for immediate job regularization and a substantial salary increase, continuing to stay away from their desks to stage protests.

During the demonstrations, employees raised slogans against stagnant wages, a lack of job security, and years of administrative neglect. Protesters stated they are forced to work extended hours for inadequate pay despite years of continuous public service.

Farmer union backs protesters

The agitation gained external traction as members of the Bharti Kisan Union (Chaduni) visited the protest site to express full solidarity. Union leaders formally backed the employees’ demands for better wages and regularisation, labeling the conditions under which they work as unjustified.

Jagjit Singh Arora, state general secretary of BKU (Chaduni), stated that the employees have dedicated years to public service and deserve immediate govt intervention regarding their salary enhancement.

Sulakhan Singh Mand, president of the union’s Ludhiana Rural unit, criticised the state’s contractual employment framework. He argued that the current contract system inherently breeds worker exploitation and should be entirely discontinued in public service delivery centers.

Union members concluded that while the govt frequently advertises new employment initiatives, existing workers face persistent financial uncertainty. They urged the administration to address the current workforce’s genuine grievances rather than focusing on hiring new recruits.

The crisis stems from a protest organised by the Sewa Kendra Mulazim Welfare Association over low wages and job insecurity. Striking operators, who currently earn between ₹10,000 and ₹11,500 per month, are demanding job regularisation and direct absorption into government departments to end corporate exploitation by private vendors. Doorstep delivery staff have also alleged grueling 14-hour schedules alongside lengthy delays in fuel expense reimbursements.