Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, June 4: Various organizations of the State Government employees have hailed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Cabinet colleagues for enhancing the retirement age of State employees from 58 years to 60 years and also conceding some others demands during the yesterday Cabinet meeting.
The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the State Government employees has thanked the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his personal intervention in conceding the demand for enhancement of retirement age.
“Our sustained struggle bore fruit yesterday when one of our major demands was fulfilled by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Enhancement in the retirement age was our right, so we got it. We are not a political party and cannot support any one. However, we give the credit to the Coalition Government for fulfilling our demand,” said JCC president Abdul Qayoom Wani while addressing a press conference at Srinagar today.
JCC leader Rouf Ahmad Bhat said that following the Government gesture, the employees also need to improve their work culture in the departments. “We have to set right our work culture. No employee has the right to deny his service to the people,” he said.
Employees Joint Action Committee EJAC (K) leaders addressed a press conference at Jammu and congratulated 4.5 lakh employees of the State on victory of their struggle and fulfillment of their long pending genuine demands highlighted by JCC. The press conference was addressed Balvinder Singh, Dharminder Singh, Ravi Singh Bhau and others who thanked the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for acceding to their demands.
A meeting of J&K Government Employees & Workers Federation was organized at Jammu under the presidentship of Kulwant Singh who congratulated the employees for their achievement as the Government has agreed in principle for implementation of the written agreement made with JCC leaders. The Federation hailed the Government decision with one voice and appreciated the withdrawal of cases against employees under ESMO.
State Unit of INTUC has welcomed the decision of the State Government for enhancing the retirement age of employees and regularization of daily wagers/ community base workers in various departments. A number of INTUC workers under the leadership of Shiv Kumar Sharma-president J&K INTUC, assembled at outside Jammu Airport to receive PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma who came from Srinagar. They were raising slogans in favour of PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz (MP) and PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma. From airport the INTUC workers in the shape of procession reached at Institute of Engineering, Gandhi Nagar, where Sham Lal Sharma addressed them and assured that he would continue to raise the issues of employees and the general public in the Cabinet as well as on other appropriate forums.
Earlier at Srinagar, a deputation of Daily Rated Workers of PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control from Kashmir valley called on Sham Lal Sharma at his official residence and expressed their gratitude for vociferously highlighting their plight in the State Cabinet that met on Tuesday.   The deputation led by president, Kashmir Province PHE Daily Rated Workers & Casual Labourers Union, Mir Tariq Pampori whole heartedly hailed the decision of State Cabinet which called for details of such workers from various departments by ending June, 2014 to take a final call on the matter.
A high level meeting of All J&K Revenue Employees Association was held here today where the State Government was hailed for enhancing the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years and assuring to fulfill the remaining demands within a period of one month.  In the meet, the Association also demanded scrapping of the new pension policy, removal of pay anomalies, filling up of vacant posts and regularization of daily wagers etc.
All Public Sector Employees and Workers Federation held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Amrik Singh Sasan and Surjit Singh for welcoming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for enhancing the retirement age. The Federation hoped that the Government would also consider their pending demands, which include implementation of 6th Pay Commission to all PSUs, budgetary support to daily rated workers, implementation of gratuity Act in toto etc.
Abdul Majid Khan, president of All J&K Low Paid Employees Federation has termed the Government decision of enhancing retirement age as a major achievement of the employees and said that the remaining demands, such as removal of pay anomalies, release of DA etc should also be addressed at the earliest.
A general body meeting of Electrical Employees Union was held under the chairmanship of its patron Deepak Tandon for hailing the decision of Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues regarding enhancement in the retirement age. The Union hoped that the pending demands on Medical Allowance, DA and removal of pay anomalies would also be conceded soon by the State Government.
Jammu and Kashmir National Trade Union Front, Poonch unit, took out a victory rally under the chairmanship of Mohd Rafiq Malik for expressing gratitude to the State Government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the historic decision on enhancement of the retirement age and upper age limit for recruitment.
All Jammu and Kashmir Electric Department Linemen & Workers Union, Jammu, held a meeting under the chairmanship of Vijay Gupta for expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on his historic decision of enhancing the retirement age of Government employees. The meet also highlighted some pending demands of the Union.
Welcoming the historic decision of the Omar-led Government, State Central Labour Union provincial president Nar Singh said that the enhancement of retirement age shall ensure better working by the employees and quality of work.

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, June 4: District Development Commissioner Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal convened a meeting of development departments and PRIs at Arnas and Dharmari to take stock of public grievances and review various developmental works in Panchayats.
The meeting also deliberated on various works to be included in the Annual Plan and new projects to be placed before District Development Board meeting for approval.
SDM Mahore Ashwani Khajuria, ACD Joginder Singh Rai, CEO Ashok Sanyal, XEn Sanjeev Rathore, Anil Pandoi, A K Gupta, Jagdish Chib, Asstt Director CAPD, Distt Social Welfare Officer, Tehsildars and BDOs attended the meeting with Sarpanchs, Panchs and prominent citizens from Panchayats of Arnas and Mahore blocks.
Sarpanchs of Thuru, Kainthi, Arnas, Maslote, Dharmari, Thuru A, Tuli, Chassana, Jij, Chinkah Panchayats presented memorandum of demands pertaining to different departments. Cheques worth Rs 5.85 lakh were distributed among 39 affected families for repair of damaged houses.
The DDC directed PMGSY, PWD, PDD, CAPD and Revenue Department for early redressal of grievances and completion of pending projects on war footing. He also announced constitution of teams for inspection of different works for their quality and timely completion. A number of grievances were redressed and directions issued to department.
Issues related to health, roads, schools, compensation, shortage of staff and doctors were discussed in the meeting. Officers also called upon the Panchayats to actively participate in the development planning process. They were assured that all their genuine demands will be included in the Annual Plan.
PRIs appreciated the proactive role played by district administration in prompt grievance redressal and taking Panchayats on board for planning and development process during last one year. They also lauded the capacity building of Panchayats through frequent meetings and e-Panchayat project launched successfully in the district.
The DDC asked PRIs to continue their efforts for development at grassroots.