Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 24: A mass rally of workers of different sectors was organized by the State Committee of CITU today which marched from Maharaja Hari Singh Park and passing through Dogra Chowk and Gumat, culminated at lndira Chowk. The rally was led by M Y Tarigami, MLA and president of State CITU,
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While addressing the workers Tarigami expressed serious concern over the continued neglect of the genuine and long-pending demands of lakhs of Scheme workers and other categories of workers who form the backbone of public service delivery but continue to be subjected to exploitation and insecurity. He said that Scheme workers including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and Helpers, and Mid-Day Meal workers are rendering invaluable services in the fields of health, nutrition, education, and social welfare.
Despite working for years, they are paid a meagre honorarium, denied the status of workers, and excluded from basic labour and social security protections. Their long-standing demands for regularisation, substantial revision of honorarium/incentives, coverage under social security schemes such as EPF, ESI, pension, maternity benefits, and job security remain unaddressed.
Tarigami also said that BRO Casual Paid workers are being paid only minimum wages and have been deliberately excluded from EPF and ESI coverage. despite clear directions issued by the Central EPFO Commissioner, Jammu. This blatant violation of statutory provisions amounts to denial of workers’ legal rights and must be corrected immediately.
The MLA said that the situation of daily wagers, casual, temporary and contractual workers working in thousands across various departments of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir is equally alarming. Many of these workers have been working continuously for years, even decades, but are still paid a paltry minimum wage of Rs 311 per day.
Om Prakash working president expressed serious concern regarding the workers engaged in the construction of hydro power projects (CVPPP Ltd), four-lane highways, as well as contract workers engaged in various power stations of NHPC in Jammu & Kashmir. These workers are performing the same nature of work as regular workers but are subjected to discriminatory wage structures. CITU leader demanded that wages of all such workers be paid at par with workers employed at the Uri-I Power Station, ensuring equal pay for equal work.
The CITU strongly condemned the draconian four Labour Codes recently notified by the Modi Government, which are anti—worker and pro—corporate in character.
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