I-T Dept employees observe day-long strike across country

Over 50,000 employees of the Income Tax Department on Thursday observed a day-long countrywide strike to press the government for redressal of their service-related demands. Officials of the striking unions said no work was conducted at these offices all day and the next plan of action will be decided on October 11. The main tax office at the Civic Centre building here wore a near-deserted look even as striking employees were seen staging protests in the compound.

"More than 50,000 officers and staff of the department participated in the day-long strike as a result of which normal work in all offices of the country was stalled. We are meeting again on October 11 to decide the future course of action," ITEF President A K Kanojia said. The I-T Department has two prominent groups -- the Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) and ITGOA -- and they represent about 97 per cent of the workforce. The remaining three per cent work force of the department comprises officers drawn from the Indian Revenue Service.