Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 3: All J&K Estates Employees Association (JKEEA) today appealed the LG administration for reorganization of Estates Department.
Addressing a press conference here today, president of the Association Prem Singh Bawa said that in the year 1973 when the department came into existence there were only 250 quarters approximately to look after and provide facilities to the Government employees occupying the quarters/bungalows but by the passage of time, the strength of the Government quarters increased to above 3550.
He said despite increase in number of Government quarters, the limited staff of the department continued to render their services. “Since 1973, we have been pursuing for reorganization of the department so that the strength of the employees is increased and they can get not only next higher promotion and other service benefits but also provide effective services as far as maintenance of Government property is concerned but all our efforts proved futile,” Bawa added.
The JKEEA president said that successive Governments cheated employees of Estates Department and deprived them of service benefits and time bound promotion by not conducting the DPC meeting. He said daily wagers working in the department have been completely ignored and their services have not been confirmed after 1994. He also sought 2½ days salary for the staff of the department engaged in essential services and maintenance, on the same analogy as that of other departments.
Bawa appealed the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to give a judicious view to the demands of the JKEEA and accordingly pass directions for the reorganization of the Estates Department and mitigation of other demands. He said if their demands are not conceded within a period of one month, they will be left with no option except taking to streets and hold protest to awake the authorities from deep slumber.
Among others, Puran Chand, Mohinder Lal, Dharam Paul, Mulak Raj, Balvinder Kumar, Dev Raj (1st), Dev Raj (2nd) and Aijaz Ahmed were present in the press conference.
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