Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 11: District PHE Employees Association (PHEEA) today held a protest demonstration at Krimchi, under the leadership of Vijay Kumar, district general secretary of the association.
The PHE employees drawn from Panchari, Pathi, Jangalgali, Krimchi Mansar, Lansi, Narore, Chakker, Sui and various parts of the district participated in the protest.
Addressing the protestors, the speakers said that in some PHE Divisions of Jammu Province the workers are without wages for last 36 months, but the issue was neither taken by Finance Minister nor PHE Minister in the just concluded Assembly session.
The speakers highlighted various demands of the Association including meeting shortage of staff in the department, holding DPC meeting as early as possible, change of designation of workers as per nature of working, release of pending wages of workers and enhancement of daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 350.
Addressing the workers, Vijay Kumar urged the Government for release of pending wages of PHE workers on priority basis. He also urged the Government to release 10% DA from January 2014 as per Central Government pattern, give priority to regularization of daily wagers instead of making direct recruitment, circulation of list of workers engaged in the department and regularization of all ITI workers having completed five years of services.
The speakers also demanded the Government to revise the sanctioned strength of the PHE Department, which they alleged has not been revised since creation of divisions since 40-50 years back.
Others who spoke included Rattan Singh, Rajinder Sharma, Makhan Chand, Raj Kumar, Janait Ali, Luxman Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, Kartar Chand, hans Raj and Som Dutt.
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