The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday began negotiations with striking government employees who have struck work for the last nine days.

 

 In a late evening meeting, Principal Secretary (Appointment) Rajiv Kumar met leaders of the striking unions to hammer out a solution to the impasse.However, no solution was found at the end of the meeting and the deadlock continues.

 

 The government also appealed to the striking employees to return to work and not stall medical services, as announced, from Nov 21.

 

 The Akhilesh Yadav government has formed a three-member committee headed by Agriculture Production Commissioner Alok Ranjan to look into the demands of the government employees.

 

 Principal Secretary (Finance) and Principal Secretary (Karmik/Personnel) will be members of the committee.

 

 Officials said the committee would submit its report with possible recommendations with regard to the employees' demands, keeping in mind the financial constraints faced by the government.

 

 Rajiv Kumar said the delegation had put forth some tough and complicated demands and it would take some time to study them and get approval from top government officials.

 

 The employees' union has put forward a 21-point charter of demands before the government for consideration.

 

 The Allahabad High Court had Tuesday directed the state government to initiate a dialogue with the striking employees within 24 hours and revert back on the next date of hearing.

 

 The state government late Tuesday had invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and had declared the strike illegal. Strikes by government employees for the next six months have also been banned.