Ludhiana, Aug. 18 -- Employees at the Mini Secretariat and other government offices in the district began a two-day strike on Monday, demanding an increase in dearness allowance (DA) from the existing 31% to 48%.

The strike, called by the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union (PSMSU), has affected clerical staff at the offices of the deputy commissioner (DC), sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs), additional deputy commissioners (ADCs), tehsils and other administrative departments. The employees have stopped routine clerical work, including processing files, during the agitation.

Vikas Kumar, president of the Employees Union, Ludhiana, said employees were entitled to 48% DA as per orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court, but were curr...