Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 4: Senior Trade Union leader and former president, Water Works (PHE) Employees Association from district Udhampur, Som Nath today urged upon the J&K UT Administration to release pending 54 months wages of the daily rated/ consolidated workers of the PHE Department and also regularize them without any more delay.
Addressing a press conference here today, Som Nath, who was flanked by other senior members of the District Unit of the Association expressed serious concern over non-release of the wages of workers since 2014. He pointed out that during 2014-15 only two months wages (Nov & Dec) were released in favour of these daily rated/ consolidated workers; during 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 no wages were released by J&K Government; during 2018-19 the wages for the month of only December were released, whereas, during 2019-20 only two months wages were released in favour of these hapless workers of just January and February. Total 54 months wages of these poor and hapless workers are pending till date, he informed.
“It is very unfortunate, unfair and unjustified, on the part of State Government that these poor and hapless workers of PHE Department (now Jal Shakti Mission) have been left to face exploitation despite the fact that they are performing their duty even during COVID-19 pandemic. Despite many representations, peaceful dharnas and protests, the J&K Administration and previous BJP-PDP Govt did not bother to release their pending wages. They are struggling to seek their regularization but that process was also stalled. The Govt must stop exploitation of the work force which is human rights violation,” Som Nath said.
The Trade Union leader further alleged that these workers are the front line warriors and performing their essential services duty despite Corona virus threat but they are not being provided masks, gloves, sanitizers etc by the department. In case of any infection to them due to COVID-19, higher authorities in the PHE Department will be responsible.
Som Nath further demanded regularization of CP/ITI/ land cases workers, remove shortage of staff at water stations and offices, implement Minimum Wages Act on the pattern of Centre, conduct DPC of all cadres, change the designation of employees as per nature of job, clear all the pending SRO-43 cases, enhance Medical allowance of employees and pensioners and also release pending DA installments. He sought personal intervention of Lt Governor, G C Murmu into the matter.
Senior members Vijay Sharma, Suraj Parkash, Dinesh Kesar, Rajinder Kumar and Amit Kumar also accompanied.
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