Daily wagers stage protest, threaten intensified agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sep 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum today protested here against the delay in regularising daily wagers, accusing the government of failing to fulfil its election promises.

Scores of daily wagers gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar and raised slogans in support of their demands. The protesters urged the Government to expedite the regularisation process and announce a concrete roadmap for settling their long-pending demands.

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Forum President Sajad Ahmed Parray said the government must address the issues of daily wagers, including regularisation and restoration of pension, recalling promises made during the election campaign.

Parray said a committee formed on the floor of the J&K Assembly to prepare a roadmap for regularisation was expected to submit its report within six months. However, he said, 18 months had passed and the report had not been made public. "Neither our expenses have been cleared, nor has our job security been ensured, and no permanent policy has been brought forward," Parray said. He alleged that the government had changed its priorities after coming to power.

He claimed that around four lakh daily wagers and casual workers, along with a large number of employees, had supported the government during the elections based on its promises. "But today, the government has forgotten them and broken its promises," he said.

Parray also criticised the government for what he described as its failure to address the concerns of daily wagers, casual labourers, Special Police Officers and Anganwadi workers, while legislators were receiving higher salaries. "Our workers are suffering, struggling and raising their voices, but no one is listening to them," he said.

He also questioned the silence of legislators who, he said, had campaigned on promises to address employees' concerns.

Parray warned that elected representatives would again have to seek public support during upcoming Assembly, Panchayat, Urban Local Bodies and parliamentary elections. "If injustice continues, the people will certainly give an answer. Time is passing and you will have to come back to the people," he said.

The forum has set Sept. 10 as the deadline for the government to address its demands. Parray said delegates would meet that day to decide the future course of action. "If the government does not resolve our issues, we will launch a programme with greater determination and intensity, and the struggle will continue until our demands are fulfilled," he said.