Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: The Migrants casual labourers Association of Relief and Rehabilitation department today held protest demanding release of their one years’ wages.
The casual labourers engaged by Relief Office Jammu for looking after the electricity, water supply and allied works of 5248 flats at Jagti Mini township and Muthi flats assembled here today and held protest demonstration. They were demanding release of their wages for the last about one year.
The protesting casual workers alleged that they and their families were facing starvation and the concerned authorities failed to pay their wages despite the fact that they were performing their duty regularly. They pointed out that after construction of these flats at Jagti during 2010, casual workers were engaged as watch and ward staff and for looking after electricity and water supply etc during 2011 by the Relief Commissioner Jammu.
After this the staff was getting regular wages but for the last one year, their wages have been stopped. During 2019 a new wage head 364 was also created separately. But due to some problem with the Finance department, the wages of the staff have remained unpaid for the last more than 11 months now. Many representations were given to the Relief Commissioner and the concerned Commissioner/ Secretary as well but the issue could not be resolved.
They pointed out that due to the fault on the part of Government officials, they are made to suffer for the last many months. There is no accountability at all and nobody is there to listen to the issues of the suffering employees/ workers. They sought the intervention of Lt Governor and sought action against the officers at the helm of affairs for whom mistake/ error, they are made to suffer for the last one year. They demanded that their pending wages must be releases before coming Shivratri festival, otherwise, they will protest outside Raj Bhawan.