JKHDFEA stages protest in support of demands

Employees of Hostel Development Fund during a protest demonstration in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Employees of Hostel Development Fund during a protest demonstration in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 1: All J&K Hostel Development Fund Employees Association held a strong protest demonstration outside Press Club, here today in support of its demands.
Representatives of the district bodies of the Association from all over Jammu province participated in the protest. They raised slogans against the administration for not paying heed to their grievances and demands.
Interacting with the media during the protest, the protesting employees of the JKHDFEA said that they have been working in the Department for last 15-20 years but on the name of the salary they are being paid only Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 per month, which is not justified as a family of even two members cannot meet its both ends with this petty amount.
“There are around 2000 to 3000 employees working in the J&K Hostels Development Fund and all these are being paid peanuts on the name of honorarium despite giving services of 12 hours a day,” they said adding, that even 8000 casual labourers are set to get the benefit of Minimum Wages Act but Hostel Development Fund employees have been deprived of that also.
The protesting employees said that they gave representation time to time to concerned officers including Chief Secretary of J&K but get only fake assurances of consideration of their demands. They urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and solve their issues.
“Today’s protest is only a token protest but if our issues are not redressed soon, we will launch a strong agitation to get our issues solved,” they added.