Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: The workers engaged under MGNREGA held huge protest rally at Exhibition Ground near here today.
On 23th consecutive day of their protest, a large number of employees under the banner of All J&K MGNREGA Employees Association (RDD) assembled at Exhibition Ground and started protest demonstration. The workers from various districts Jammu province joined the protest program.
Addressing the protesting employees, the Association president, Sandeep Kalotra, said that despite assurance by the Rural Development Department (RDD) to regularize MGNREGA workers nothing has been done so far.
He informed the protesting employees that yesterday he along with office bearers met with Director Rural Development Department, Jammu, who asked them to call off the strike on oral assurance but they refused as oral assurances from the authorities from time to time have proved a hoax.
Kalotra said this is a ‘do or die’ agitation in favour of legitimate demands. He said regularization of services is their first and last demand and if it is not fulfilled, they will block National Highway of Jammu and Kashmir from August 4.
“We are being ill-treated by the State administration. If the Government does not do anything this time, we will intensify our protest in coming days and it has been resolved to launch ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ so that Government can make requisite arrangements for our food and stay in jails”, he added.
He appealed Governor Narinder Nath Vohra to get involved and save the future of thousands of MGNREGA employees by passing instructions to the Rural Development Department to regularize them.
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