Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 21: Expressing the hope that the ensuing 2015-16 State budget which is about to be presented by the Finance Minister in the State Legislative Assembly tomorrow will be pro- working class budget, president National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) Subash Shastri today demanded for allotting separate wage head in each department in the budget so that all daily rated workers engaged in various departments of the State Government could get their monthly salary regularly.
In a press statement here Mr Shastri said that under the budgetary provisions, this interim measure will go a long way to address their financial problems in view of sharp increase in the prices of essential commodities and inflation. He pointed out that these daily wagers have not been paid their wages for the last many years, neither they were regularized so far.
While appreciating programs and policies of the new Coalition Govt of the State, Mr Shastri appealed the State Finance Minister to settle the long pending demand of 62,000 daily wagers for their regularization so that confusion and uncertainty among these daily wagers could come to an end.
Stressing on the need for release of 17% DA installments in favour of employees and pensioners, Shastri urged him to announce and release the same while presenting next year annual budget. He added that it is the matter of financial routine and the salaried class and pensioners are faced with the problem of soaring prices, especially those of essential commodities.
He also projected the demand of immediate release of all pending dues of all daily wagers, amending SRO 64, issuance of regularization orders of 180 daily wagers working in the Rural Development Department, enhancing Medical allowance to Rs one thousand per month and increasing monthly salary of daily wagers to Rs 10,000.
Others present on the occasion included Sunil Kumar, Surinder Kumar, Parmjit, Sudesh Bhagat, Tarsem Gill, Rajan Babu, Sawarn Kumar, Dalip Bhagat and Suraj Singh.