Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 16: Scores of daily wagers and contractual employees staged a protest march here today, demanding regularization of their services and clarity on the Government’s proposed policy.
The protesters, under the banner of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), assembled at TRC Crossing and marched to the Nawa-i-Subah complex, the headquarters of the ruling National Conference, raising slogans such as “We want justice” and “”Nothing short of regularisation in service will be acceptable.” The employees said the Government led by Omar Abdullah must fulfil promises made before the elections.
EJAC general secretary Sajjad Ahmad Parray said they want a clear and transparent regularisation policy. “We gave our vote with the hope that our services would be regularised and the old pension scheme restored. The Government must clarify whether casual workers will get fixed pay or full benefits like permanent employees and what will happen to those nearing regularisation and Phase-II workers,” he said.
Several protesters highlighted personal hardships. A daily wager from the Public Health Engineering Department said his son is suffering from a fatal disease and needs treatment costing around Rs 8 lakh. “With a monthly salary of Rs 9,000, I cannot afford the treatment. The government must answer what I have gained after years of service,” he said.
Mohammad Sultan Mir, a casual labourer with the Agriculture Department, said employees close to retirement are living in uncertainty. “We have spent our entire lives in service and cannot do any other job. The government must clarify whether we will be included in the regularisation policy,” he said.
Another casual employee from the Health Department said he has been working for 23 years on meagre wages. “We were promised minimum wages or regularisation before the elections, but nothing has happened so far,” he said.
The protesters said they will continue their agitation until the Government announces a clear regularisation policy.
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