Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, May 25: MGNREGA Engineers Association today extended pen-down strike in favour of their demands by ten more days.
Rohit Dev Singh Manhas, State president MGNREGA engineers said that Government continues to ignore the genuine demands of the qualified engineering and other staff despite assurances from time to time.
“We are aware that public is suffering a lot but we have been left with no option by the Government but to extend the strike,” he said, adding, “There will be complete pen down strike till June 4. In case Government fails to fulfil our genuine issue, we will intensify the protests.”
Meanwhile, work in Rural Development Department in J&K has remained affected for the past few weeks as MGNREGA Engineers Association continues its strike in favour of their ‘long pending’ demands.
The Association has already issued an appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to “intervene” for fulfilling their “genuine demands.”
It said the Government continues to give “cold-shoulder” to their “genuine” demands despite constitution of two committees and recommendations by them.
The Association said two committees were formed to look into the demands but government failed to fulfil promises made from time to time. “ Government agreed to our demands in principal and formed two committees. The committees made recommendations but were not acted upon by the government,” it said.
“We have extended our strike by 10 days due to cold response of the Government and if there is still no headway we will then intensify our protests and chalk out new strategy,” the Association members said urging Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the issue on “humanitarian basis”.
The Association is also demanding hike in salary and framing of policy for regularization as engineers have given their prime life to make the MGNREGA and other schemes a success.
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