*Strong resentment against CM’s reply in LA
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Mar 10: Scores of Jal Shakti (PHE) Department workers/daily wagers were cane- charged and detained during their strong protest demonstrations in Srinagar and Jammu in support of their demands and protest march towards Legislative Assembly/CM’s residence was foiled by the police authorities.
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Under the banner of PHE United Front, these workers from Jammu district, led by Rajinder Singh Taj and Ravi Hans and other United Front leaders assembled in the PHE Complex BC Road Jammu today morning and held strong protest demonstration. These workers were protesting in support of their demand of regularization and release of their long pending wages.
The PHE authorities failed to release their pending wages of about 85 months. Despite assurances by the LG’s administration their regularization is still awaited. Their strike and protest dharna continued for the last over 800 days, outside the office of Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, B C Road Jammu.
Talking to media-persons here before rally Rajinder Singh Taj, the Union leader said that hapless workers are on strike since June 2022, demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services. He said despite several rounds of talks with higher authorities in the Department, their issues could not be resolved.
He further said that NC and Congress had assured about the regularization of their services during elections. It was also part of their manifesto but the reply of Chief Minister in the House has shattered the hopes of daily wagers who along with their families had fully supported NC Government. There was strong resentment against CM’s cool response. He also demanded that SRO 64 be implemented which had been abolished during March 1994. The pending wages of all the PHE workers be released.
Ravi Hans said since 1994 about 7000 new Water Supply Schemes have been introduced and under Jal Jeevan Mission only in Jammu region 1089 new Schemes have been introduced. But no employee has been recruited. At least six workers are needed to run one Tube Well. The PHE daily wagers are over burdened. They should be regulsied and more staff be recruited.
When the protesting workers were moving towards Legislative Assembly in the shape of a large rally, they were stopped by strong police contingent near MLA Hostel. The workers had some scuffle with the cops. The police also resorted to light cane- charge on them. Three workers sustained minor injuries.
Similar protests were held at all the districts headquarters and divisional offices in the region.
In Srinagar, Scores of daily wagers and casual workers were briefly detained here today after they attempted to march toward the Chief Minister’s residence at Gupkar Road, demanding regularization of their services and implementation of the Minimum Wages Act.
Hundreds of protesters, under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Casual and Daily Wagers Forum (JKCDF), gathered at the Jal Shakti headquarters in Srinagar, raising slogans against the government for failing to address their demands in the ongoing budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. As they attempted to proceed toward Gupkar Road, police intervened, shut the gates of the Jal Shakti office at Exchange Road, and thwarted their march.
Speaking to the media, Public Health Engineering (PHE) daily wagers’ president Sajad Parray condemned the police action, calling it an act of “sheer frustration by the authorities.” He said, “We had planned to gherao the Chief Minister’s residence, but police detained our members and lodged them in various stations across Srinagar since morning.”
He also highlighted wage disparities, stating that while daily wagers in Ladakh receive Rs 45,000 per month and those in Delhi earn Rs 29,000, workers in Jammu and Kashmir continue to be paid significantly lower wages.
Parray warned of a larger protest in front of the Civil Secretariat on 13th March if the government fails to implement the regularization act.
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