Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: All India Porters Union (AIPU) today staged a protest demonstration demanding permanent employment.
A large number of porters under the banner of AIPU today assembled here near Press Club and started raising slogans in support of their demand.
While speaking on the occasion, president, J&K AIPU, Romesh Kumar said that a large number youth from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Himachal Pradesh and Pathankot were recruited at Cantonment area of Pathankot (Punjab), Udhampur and Akhnoor as Army Civilian Porters.
He said that they were recruited after they cleared all medical tests as well as completed other formalities of the C/O 56 APO and during Kargil war in the year 1999-2002, they served in most difficult terrain in Kargil area of J&K along with regular Army troops.
“During the war, 10 porters lost their lives while serving for Nation and Government gave financial help a well as Government job to one person of the families of each martyred porter but rest of the porters are waiting for their engagement as per the assurances and promises made by the Government/concerned authorities”, Kumar said.
He said that the authorities concerned also handed over certified to every individual and assured us preference in Government jobs keeping in view of our service to Nation in the hour of need, but did not fulfill its promises.
“What an irony that the surrendered militants in the Country are being given employment and jobs but those who gave precious time of their life for the sake of the Nation, are still unemployed”, Kumar said, adding, now we have no option other than suicide, as Government has failed to redress their demand for permanent employment.
He appealed the concerned authorities to take action in favour of the hundreds of civilian porters and protest them and their families from starvation
Follow our WhatsApp channel
