Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: All J&K Patwar Association (AJKPA) today started their 4-day token strike throughout the State to press for their long pending demands.
The strike was held at all district headquarters where Patwaries and Girdwars in large number assembled and raised slogans in favour of their demands. Holding banners in their hands, they also staged sit-in protest. Click here to watch video
The main protest was held at District Headquarter, Jammu in DC office complex, where hundreds of Patwaries and Girdwars across Jammu district led by their provincial president, Mohd Farooq Malik, assembled this morning and raised slogans against in support of their demands.
They were demanding grade pay for graduate Patwaries from Rs 2400 to Rs 2800, timely DPC for Patwaris and GQs, creation of GQ Circles and Patwar Halqas, ban on direct recruitment of Naib Tehsildars, enhancement of allowances for Patwaries and GQs, rent for Patwar Khanas in case of private accommodation, construction of Patwar Khanas and meeting halls, offices for Patwar Association in Jammu and Srinagar districts, and functioning of Departmental Enquiry Cell constituted some months ago.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohd Farooq Malik said that the association was forced to adopt the path of agitation as a chain of meetings with Revenue Minister failed to yield any results. He said that Revenue Minister had constituted the Committee under the chairmanship of Additional Commissioner, Kashmir to examine the demands of Patwar Association.
“Though the Committee submitted its report to the Government on 27.09.2017 recommending all the genuine demands of the Patwar fraternity but till date these recommendations have not been even considered by the Government despite a number of memorandums submitted to it from time to time”, he added.
A protest demonstration was also held by the Patwaries at Reasi, owing allegiance to All J&K Patwar Association, Reasi unit, in protest against their long pending demands. The demonstration was led by Association’s senior vice president of the State, Mushtaq Ahmed Ganaie and district president, Reasi Arfan Shahid Mir.
“The Government has promised fulfillment of demands including enhancement of allowances and rent, timely DPC of Patwaries and GQs but no demand has been fulfilled yet,” the protesters said and threatened to go on pen-down strike if their demands are not fulfilled.
At Srinagar, scores of Patwaries and Girdwars assembled outside the office of Deputy Commissioner and raised slogans against the department as well as the Government. The protesters lamented that Government has failed to fulfill their long pending demands including removal of grade pay, enhancement of allowances and rent.
The protesters said that the Government is going to implement 7th Pay Commission and it is considering removal of pay anomalies of several employees that would have huge financial implication but the demand of Patwar Association with a meager financial implication of just Rs 6 crore annually that our Patwaries generate within 15 days for the State exchequer, has not been fulfilled.
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