Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: All J&K SRTC Volunteer Retired Employees Association today held a protest demonstration near Press Club Jammu under the leadership of Dev Raj Bali, president VRS Union Jammu.
They were demanding release of their 6th Pay Commission arrears, Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) arrears with effect from 1999, implementation of the corporation benefits and bonus @ 8.33 percent on basic pay.
The protesters strongly criticized the behaviour of the SRTC management and Finance Department which are allegedly harassing the VRS employees of J&K SRTC, who are struggling for the last seven years for their legitimate dues of 6th Pay Commission arrears and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) arrears since 1999 , which come to total amount of Rs 16, 76, 49,497.00.
“We have been struggling for the last more than seven years for our legitimate dues whereas J&K Finance Department and SRTC management have been harassing the VRS/GHS employees of the SRTC. It is strange that we were given the assurances that our due would be cleared within 60 days from the date of our VRS/GHS but till date these assurances have not turned into the reality,” they lamented and appealed to the Lt Governor to intervene into the matter so that their balance 50 percent payment be released.
The Association claimed that ever since the ongoing struggle, 39 VRS/GHS employees of Jammu & Kashmir have breathed their last as they could not afford medical treatment for want of funds. “Now we have full faith in the administration of newly carved UT of J&K, which will sort out the issue and release our dues,” they said.
Those who addressed the protest dharna, included Balwinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Shiv Kumar, Khadam Hussain, Surinder Kumar, Dhian Singh and others.
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