Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: The strike and protest of Patwaris under the aegis of All J&K Patwar Association entered 3rd day, today.
A large number of patwaries drawn from various parts of Jammu today assembled at DC office complex and staged dharna from morning to evening while raising slogans in support of their demands which include increase in the grade pay of graduate patwaris and timely departmental promotion.
They also demanded Government accommodation for the Patwar Khanas and basic facilities for running the Patwar offices. The agitating patwaries also sought ban on direct recruitment of Naib-Tehsildars and demanded creation of GQ circles and transfers of GQs out of the district.
Speaking on the occasion, the protesting patwaries said they were forced to resort to the path of agitation time and again by the authorities as despite assurance given by the Revenue Secretary in March 2022 that all their demands will be fulfilled within a month, nothing was done after a lapse of about one year.
Similar protests of patwaris were also held in other districts of Jammu province. They said that Government had promised to fulfill their demands last year in March but nothing has been done yet in that regard.
They demanded the Government to hike Grade pay of patwaries from Rs 2400 to 2800, bifurcate patwar halqas and grant 75 percent Naib Tehsildar quota to patwaries through promotion.