Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Sep 15: While the State Government has issued strict orders to the employees to resume their duty in flood affected Kashmir, the Jammu based Darbar Move employees have expressed their reluctance to go back and comply to the order issued by the Chief Secretary under such circumstances.
The Chief Secretary, Mohd Iqbal Khandey in a message to all the Government employees has asked them to report back to their duties to mitigate the problems of the people in this time of crisis, otherwise, action under rules shall be initiated against the absentee employees. However, questioning about their safety after resuming duties, the Darbar Move employees have raised the banner of revolt against the order.
“What is the logic behind issuing such an order at a time when the Civil Secretariat complex was still submerged in water with most of the records in bad shape on first floor of the building,” a senior JCC leader said.
He said the Jammu Srinagar National is not yet restored for the traffic and the employees are not entitled to travel by air while the State Government has not made any special arrangements to airlift the employees. Under such circumstances it is not practically possible for them to immediately report on duty.
Another senior Trade Union leader pleading anonymity said that the employees lodged in private guest houses and hotel buildings complained that when most of the structures were still submerged or completely destroyed and no place left for them to be made available for accommodation, then how they can go back on duties?
“Some of the senior ministers and even the Chief Minister himself are operating their office from Hari Niwas Palace then how can they operate in Srinagar ?,” he maintained.
” We know, how we managed to escape from the flood-hit Kashmir and in such circumstances, when there is no road connectivity, no complete restoration of power and water supply, shortage of essential commodities, it is impossible to go back and join the duties,” another employee who remained trapped for 4 days on third storey of his hotel maintained.
The employees said that there is a fear of epidemic in the Valley and no Medical help has been assured and not even they were given any kind of vaccination.
Meanwhile, a faction of EJAC has termed the order of Government as highly unjustified and maintained that at the time when people are being evacuated from Kashmir, the employees from Jammu are being forced to report back to Kashmir. It said that there is no water, food for those trapped and even no identified accommodation. Asking employees to rush back is unacceptable. The EJAC leader without being quoted appealed to the Government to review its decision.
State Motor Garages Drivers and Workers Union in a meeting of the union held here today under the chairmanship of V P Singh Sambyal, president appealed the Government to review its decision. Mr Sambyal said that the employees of the Garages and others accommodated in hotels and lodges in Srinagar be asked to report for duties in Summer Secretariat Jammu till an arrangement for their boarding and lodging is made in Srinagar. He said there is no place to live and proper arrangement for their food otherwise, they have no problem to report back. Under adverse conditions, they may turn sick as there is every possibility of spreading epidemic. Mr Sambyal also demanded that a relief camp be established for employees at Srinagar.
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