Telangana: AP Finance Dept clamps ESMA to prevent strikes

The Finance Department of Andhra Pradesh government tonight issued an order prohibiting with immediate effect strikes in the treasury, pay and accounts and works accounts wings for the next six months.
The ban comes in the backdrop of the indefinite strike launched on August 13 by the AP Non-Gazetted Officers' Association, demanding that the Centre drop the plan to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
This is the first instance where the state government has invoked provisions of Essential Supplies Maintenance Act to make the striking employees call off their agitation, as two rounds of talks held by the cabinet sub-committee with the Association have ended in failure.

The strike has brought government administration to a grinding halt in 13 districts in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
More than 3,000 employees in the state secretariat here too have been carrying out protests, and hampering work in various departments.
In the order issued today, Special Chief Secretary (Finance) Venkataramani Bhaskar said that Andhra Pradesh Treasuries and Accounts Subordinate Service, Andhra Pradesh Treasuries and Accounts State Service, Andhra Pradesh Pay and Accounts State Service and Andhra Pradesh Pay and Accounts Subordinate Service and Andhra Pradesh Works Accounts Service have been declared as Essential Services.