PHE workers stage protest, 72-hr Kam Chhorh Hartal deferred

PHE workers staging protest dharna outside Chief Engg's office at BC Road in Jammu on Thursday. Excelsior/ Rakesh
PHE workers staging protest dharna outside Chief Engg's office at BC Road in Jammu on Thursday. Excelsior/ Rakesh

*Dharna at CE’s office enters 268th day

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: The PHE workers and daily wagers’ staged strong protest demonstration outside the office of Chief Engineer , Jal Shakti Department at B C Road Complex here today.
They were demanding release of their pending wages of about 70 months, salary of December month and regularisation of their services. Their strike and protest dharna continued the 268 th consecutive day today outside the office of Chief Engineer, PHE / Jal Shakti department Jammu and other Divisional headquarters in Jammu province.
Jal Shakti workers are on strike since June 22, 2022 and demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services. Despite several rounds of talks with higher authorities in the Department, their issues could not be resolved despite Lt Governor’s assurance.
A large number of PHE workers from various Divisions and Sub- Divisions assembled outside the office of Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, at BC Road, under the banner of PHE United Front and held strong protest demonstration. They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against LG’s Administration, BJP and other higher authorities in the J&K UT
The employees representatives including, Ravi Hans, Navdeep Singh, Hoshiar Singh, Rajinder Kumar and others said that they have decided not to call off strike until an order is issued by the Government.
Today the United Front had decided to go for 72-hour Kam Chhorh Hartal from 8 pm but due to the intervention of Deputy Commissioner Jammu, the programme was deferred .
These workers are demanding regularization, enhancement of Minimum Wages as per Central norms in J&K UT and release of pending wages of 70 months of PHE workers.