Numberdars, Chowkidars’ body urges Govt to solve their issues

Numberdars and Chowkidars during meeting at Dogra Sadar Sabha office in Jammu.
Numberdars and Chowkidars during meeting at Dogra Sadar Sabha office in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Numberdars and Chowkidars Association of Jammu province today urged the Government to resolve their pending problems/issues without any delay.
A meeting of Numberdars/ Chowkidars wing of Dogra Sadar Sabha J&K was held under the chairmanship of Th Gulchain Singh Charak, president DSS today at Sabha Bhawan, Dogra Hall, Jammu. A large number of Numberdars and Chowkidars representing different Tehsils & Districts participated in this meeting to discuss the burning issues faced by these grass root institutions.
The main issues which came under discussion were low remuneration, deficiencies in uniform of Chowkidars, office accommodation at district and tehsil headquarters, identity cards, their representation in District and Block Development Boards etc.
But the most deplorable issue that came under the discussion was summarily dismissal of hundreds of Numberdars/ Chowkidars by the Govt without assigning any reasons which is a blot on the entire career of their service. They were quite disgusted on account of this indelible mark on their service career as well as they have to face it during their entire lifetime while in the society. Moreover, they were branded as land grabbers also.
The prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were Capt Sardar Singh, president of the Association, Raj Kumar of Hiranagar, Balwant Singh and Channkar Singh representing the Reasi and Katra and OP Sangra of Kootah.
Charak while addressing the meeting said that all these issues have been brought to the notice of the Govt at different levels such as Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners. He said that the Dogra Sadar Sabha has also taken up all these burning issues faced by them with the administration.
Later, a committee of the Numberdars/Chowkidars was constituted to take up their problems at proper forum with Capt Sardar Singh of Nud as convenor, Raj Kumar of Hiranagar as general secretary. The other members included- Balwant Singh, Channkar Singh, Baldev Raj and Darshan Singh of district Jammu, OP Sangra of Kathua district, Mashooq Khan of Poonch. They were also authorized to nominate more members on this Committee representing different Tehsils of Jammu region.