Bihar Secretariat Clerical Staff on Indefinite Strike Over Long-Pending Demands

Clerical staff across Bihar’s secretariats and district administrative offices have launched an indefinite strike from August 9, bringing routine government functioning to a grinding halt in several districts. The strike, led by the Bihar AnuSachiviya Karmachari Sangh (Gop faction), is in protest against what the employees call the state government’s "deliberate neglect" of their 10-point charter of demands.

Despite a series of peaceful demonstrations over the past two months — including black badge protests, lunch-hour marches, and district-level sit-ins — the union claims the government has neither initiated any dialogue nor taken any policy steps to address their concerns.

Speaking to Media, Syed Mohammad Najmi, the state secretary of the union, said, “Our demands are neither new nor unrealistic. We’ve been raising them for years, and yet there’s been no response from the government. We’ve reached a point where only an indefinite strike could make our voice heard.”

A Charter Decade in the Making

The union’s key demands revolve around the restructuring of the clerical cadre and better career progression opportunities. Chief among these is the revision of pay grades and the introduction of promotional avenues to gazetted positions such as Assistant Treasury Officer, Block Development Officer, and Deputy Collector — roles currently out of reach for clerical staff despite years of service.

They’re also seeking amendments to a 2011 notification by the General Administration Department, arguing for a 60:40 ratio between junior and senior clerks, and the creation of more senior posts like Branch Officer and Assistant Administrative Officer to reflect the growing workload.

Another significant demand is related to the implementation of the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme. The employees are pushing for promotions to be linked not just to time-bound financial upgrades but to higher-grade positions.

From Symbolism to Shutdown

In a phased campaign that began in late June, clerical staff across the state first wore black badges at work and staged slogan-shouting rallies from block offices to district headquarters. On July 9, they handed over memoranda to District Magistrates. A large-scale protest was later held at Gardanibagh, Patna, on August 3.

However, union leaders say these peaceful gestures failed to draw any meaningful response from the administration. “Not a single official communication or call for talks has come from the government. We feel ignored and insulted,” Najmi said.

A Strike With Teeth

Among other demands are calls for the creation of additional sanctioned posts in line with increased workloads, free housing at workplaces for staff, a cashless medical treatment facility of up to ₹2.5 lakh for employees and their families, ₹50 lakh accident insurance, ad-hoc bonuses, and a provision for home-district transfers in exceptional cases.

The strike has already begun to disrupt daily functioning in several districts. With clerical staff forming the backbone of administrative work — from file movement to revenue record maintenance — many offices have reported slowed or halted operations.

Government Yet to Respond

As of Tuesday evening, there was no official response from the Bihar government. Attempts to reach officials in the General Administration Department remained unsuccessful. Political observers say the government may be cautious about opening another front of negotiations just months ahead of key bureaucratic reforms expected later this year.

Meanwhile, the union has vowed to continue the strike until its demands are met. “We’re not against the government, but we won’t back down until we’re heard,” Najmi added.