*Urge Omar Abdullah to fulfill poll promise
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: The Jal Shakti (PHE) Department workers/daily wagers held strong protest demonstration outside office of Chief Engineer, Jammu on B C Road, demanding regularization of their services and release of their pending wages.
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Under the banner of PHE United Front, these workers led by Rajinder Singh Taj and other United Front leaders assemble in the PHE Complex BC Road Jammu today morning and held strong protest demonstration. These workers were protesting in support of the their demand of regularization and release of their long pending wages. The PHE authorities failed to release their pending wages of about 84 months. Despite assurances by the LG’s Administration their regularization is still awaited. Their strike and protest dharna continued for the last over 800 days, outside the office of Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, B C Road Jammu.
Talking to media-persons here today, Rajinder Singh Taj, the Union leader said that hapless workers are on strike since June 2022, demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services. He said despite several rounds of talks with higher authorities in the Department, their issues could not be resolved. Moreover, assurance by Lt Governor did not yield results.
He further said that NC and Congress had assured about the regularization of their services during elections. Now, since Budget session is being commenced, we want to remind to the Chief Minister and Congress leaders to keep provision for the PHE daily wagers and regularize their services. He also demanded that SRO 64 be implemented which had been abolished during March 1994. The pending wages of all the PHE workers be released.
Taj said since 1994 about 7000 new Water Supply Schemes have been introduced and under Jal Jeevan Mission only in Jammu region 1089 new Schemes have been introduced. But no employees have been recruited. At least six workers are needed to run one Tube Well. The PHE daily wagers are over burdened. They should be regularised and more staff be recruited.
Despite rain today many workers from various PHE Divisions including Akhnoor, Nowshera, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua etc participated in the protest program.
Several employees representatives including Ravi Hans, Hoshiar Singh, Navdeep Singh and Mohan Lal Sharma also spoke on the occasion. They said the helpless workers are demanding regularization, enhancement of minimum wages as per Central Government norms in J&K UT and release of over 84 months wages.
They said their families are facing starvation due to non-payment of their wages. They are unable to pay the school fee of their children. Despite long protest-dharnas, the LG Administration and the BJP leadership has been ignoring the burning issues of the daily wagers.
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