PATNA, Sept. 15 -- Officers of the Bihar Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Officers' Association (BiSSWA) will wear black bands from September 16 to 23 while continuing official duties, signalling support for a seven-point charter of demands. The association has also served advance notice of an indefinite strike beginning September 1 to the chief secretary, the departmental secretary and the minister for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes welfare. On September 11, Association members across districts already observed a black-band day without disrupting work. Their principal demands centre on basic infrastructure, administrative justice and parity with other services. They seek dedicated office rooms, clerks, data operators and stationery at the block and sub-divisional levels so that welfare branches can function effectively. They demand the quashing of departmental proceedings initiated against 388 of the 450 serving officers without competent approval, alleging selective punishment, illegal demotions of more than 20 district welfare officers and minor penalties for trivial lapses. The association calls for abolition of the monitoring cell in the secretariat, which it claims houses over 50 officers on prolonged deputation, creating regional imbalance and alleged intimidation of field staff....