Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 25: The protest dharna by daily wage workers of various Government departments at Dogra Chowk, near Press Club Jammu, entered its second day today, with the participants reiterating their resolve to continue the agitation until their long-pending demands are fulfilled.
A large number of workers, under the banner of All J&K Daily Wagers Sangrash Samiti and led by its president Sunnykant Chib, had launched the dharna on Friday in support of their demands. Holding banners and placards, the protesting workers continued their sit-in today as well, raising slogans in favour of their demands and seeking justice from the administration.
The protesting workforce includes Mid-Day Meal workers of the Education Department, ASHA workers of the Health Department, CP and ITI workers of the PHE/Jal Shakti Department, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers of the Social Welfare Department, Home Guards, Malis and Chowkidars from Jammu and some other districts. The Samiti has decided to continue the three-day protest to draw the attention of the authorities towards their grievances.
The workers are demanding a definite policy for regularization, release of pending wages, and implementation of the Minimum Wages Act in Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of other Union Territories. They pointed out that the UT of Ladakh has already enforced the Minimum Wages Act but J&K continues to delay its implementation, causing hardship to thousands of daily wagers who have been serving for years without job or wage security.
Speaking on the occasion, Sunny Chib said that several representations regarding their core issues have repeatedly been submitted to the higher authorities in the Government and UT administration, yet no concrete action has been taken so far. He cautioned that the workers would be forced to intensify their struggle in the coming days if the Government fails to respond in time.
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