VPMEs protest against Govt

Migrant employees protesting in front of Press Club Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Migrant employees protesting in front of Press Club Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 7: Demanding that the Valley Posted Migrant Employees (VPME) be treated at par with other displaced employees, a protest demonstration was held by VPME under the aegis of Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) at Press Club here, today.
The protesting employees with banners and pla- cards in their hands shouted slogans in support of their demands and took out a procession from Press Club to Dogra Chowk.
The protest was led by YAIKS president R K Bhat. He demanded that the Valley posted migrant employees be treated at par with other displaced employees till the Vision Document of YAIKS is implemented in letter and spirit.
The protestors termed the PM’s return, relief and rehabilitation package for Kashmiri Pandits mere eyewash. Accusing the Government of its total failure in ensuring safety and rehabilitation of 1800 employees, they said its claims of dignified and honourable return of entire displaced KP community are totally hollow.
The protestors demanded that entire structure of the employees’ rehabilitation be reviewed after holding a serious and meaningful dialogue with representatives of the community.
The protestors while highlighting the problems of Valley posted migrant employees demanded a fool proof security for them by posting Central security forces at every transit camp to instill  sense of security among them with shifting of transit camps of Hawal in Pulwama district and Nutunsoo in Kupwara district of Valley as these employees are living under fear psychosis.
They  also demanded separate accommodation for every Valley posted migrant employee with the provision of basic amenities at transit camp complex like modern shopping complex to be allotted to unemployed displaced youth of the community, opening of KVs and Government run schools to be manned by migrant teachers for the children of these employees be established, grant of Risk Allowance to migrant employees working in Valley and relief benefits and scholarships to the wards of employees besides implementation of remaining jobs under PM package without attaching draconian laws.
The protesting employees said that such measures be taken which will create a sense of belongingness among the displaced youth serving in Valley.
The YAIKS warned that in case the demands put forth in the Vision Document by it were not settled they will be forced to launch nation wide struggle.
Others who addressed included B K Bhat, vice president YAIKS, Sanjay Ganjoo its secretary, Sanjeev Koul, coordinator-VPME, Vimal Raina, Arvind Bhat , Rakesh Pandit, Rakesh Fotedar, Sunil Dhar, Ravinder Koul, Sunil Koul, Preeti Koul etc.