Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: The PHE daily rated, casual and CP workers besides other employees of the PHE Department suspended agitation after 40 hours here this afternoon.
While declaring suspension of agitation today, PHE Workers Welfare Association, president Bakshi Singh and general secretary Subhash Verma said that in view of the inconvenience being caused to the general public, the employees’ body decided to suspend agitation at 4 pm today till March 25, 2017. The Government has been given some more time by the association.
They regretted the role of Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Choudhary during meeting on Tuesday. They said that neither any commitment was made with regard to release of their wages pending for the last over 35 months, neither any definite assurance regarding regularization was given. He only assured to release three months salary and create separate wage head by next two months. They condemned the State Government for its role and alleged that temporary workers are running the whole department and Govt is just exploiting them. The workers have been fed up with the non-serious approach of the Government.
The workers are not happy with the approach of the PHE Minister who only conveyed that he would talk to the Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu and then take any decision. Bakshi Singh said that they have suspended agitation only up to March 25, and if Govt failed to resolve their issues indefinite strike would be launched there after. He said on earlier occasions also, sufficient time was given to the Government but nothing concrete was visible from their side. He appealed the workers to resume their duty immediately at their respective places.
Meanwhile, due to strike of the PHE workers, the water supply was badly affected in Jammu city and many parts of the region. Worst was the condition in rural and semi urban areas. Even taps in Civil Secretariat Jammu went dry today. The people were forced to hire private water tankers at their own as the PHE department has no sufficient alternate water supply arrangements.
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