Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 8: Even though the ongoing strike and protest dharna of PHE workers entered 17th consecutive day today, the J&K UT Administration has remained unmoved and uncared about the miseries of the general public facing water crisis.
Under the banner of PHE Employees United Front (Jammu province), the daily rated and consolidated workers of the PHE/ Jal Shakti department are on strike since June 22, 2022. The PHE workers apart from Chief Engineer’s office Jammu, held strong protest demonstrations at various PHE Divisions and Sub Divisions of the region.
A large number of PHE/Jal Shakti Department daily wage workers assembled outside the office of Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department at PHE Complex BC Road, Jammu under the leadership of Ravi Hans and other senior members and staged strong protest demonstration on the 16th consecutive day today. They were shouting slogans in support of their long pending demands and also against the J&K UT Administration.
A large number of senior leaders of the United Front addressed the gathering and criticised the Government for not addressing the pending issues of the employees including daily rated/CP workers. They were demanding regularisation of the daily rated workers, enhancement of Minimum Wages as per Central law in J&K UT and release of pending wages of 70 months of PHE workers.
They condemned the rigid and anti-employee attitude of some senior Government officers. They further alleged that two senior BJP leaders including MP Jugal Kishore and Ravinder Raina (UT president), only befooled them and done nothing for getting their long pending issues resolved.
They said their strike will continue till their issues are resolved. They have extended their strike up to July 9. The reports of similar protests have also been received from Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Akhnoor, Reasi, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and other areas in the region.
Reports said that with the ongoing strike of the PHE workers, the general public has been badly hit. Many areas are getting water supply hardly after 3-4 days and that too for 15-20 minutes. The LG’s administration has failed to resolve the issue and ensure regular and adequate water supply to the public during hot summer days.
Meanwhile, senior leaders of the PHE Employees United Front including Balbadhar Raj Vaid, Rajesh Jamwal, Mohd Mushtaq, Ajay Sharma and Dalbeer Singh, in a press statement today have urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to personally intervene and resolve the issue of daily wagers strike which entered 17th day today.
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