Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 3: The workers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department gathered today at the Press Enclave to stage a protest, drawing attention to their pressing demands. Foremost among these demands was the release of wages that have been withheld for the past two months.
Organized under the banner of the Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association, the protest drew participation from a diverse group of demonstrators.
Comprising daily wage labuorers, ITI workers, casual employees, landowners, and seasonal workers, they raised their voices in unison, decrying the administration’s alleged indifference to their plight.
Sajjad Parray, the head of the association, spoke on behalf of the demonstrators, expressing their grievances. He emphasized the dire situation they currently face, remarking, “For the last two months, our wages have not been released, causing immense suffering to us and our families.”
Parray further revealed that there are expectations of visits to J&K by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister in connection with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 campaign.
He asserted, “We want to tell them that the J&K Unit of the BJP had formed a committee regarding the regularization of daily wagers. The committee conducted consultations in both Kashmir and Jammu, and a comprehensive report was sent to the Home Ministry and the LG, Manoj Sinha. However, so far, we have not seen any outcome.”
Drawing attention to Prime Minister Modi’s previous commitment to regularize workers and provide them with much-needed relief, Parray stressed the urgent need for a concrete government policy.
He said that this policy should encompass the regularization of workers, timely payment of pending salaries, and the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act.
The protesters expressed their concerns about the need for the Government to fulfill promises it has already accepted.
They called for the immediate release of their pending wages and urged the administration to implement fair and equitable policies to address their long-standing grievances.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
