Lucknow, Nov 19 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh government Tuesday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state, an official spokesman said.
By invoking the act, the state government has also banned strikes by government employees for the next six months.
The decision was taken in the wake of the statewide agitation by state government employees, officials said.
The state government, the spokesman said, was invoking the ESMA through the powers vested in it by the Uttar Pradesh Atyavashyak Anurakshan Adhiniyam, 1966.
Over 16 lakh employees in the state have been on strike since Nov 12 to press for their demands, which include benefits at par with central government employees.
The employees have also begun stalling facilities in the state-run hospitals and medical facilities since Monday.