Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Stating that there seems a systematic and routine violation of labour laws in the State, CPI (M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today underscored need for strict implementation of regulations guaranteeing protection to the ‘unprotected’ working class in the State.
While participating in discussion on demands for grants of Planning and Development Department and Labour and Employment in the Legislative Assembly, the CPI (M) MLA said, “labourers are enduring minimum wages and overtime violations, hazardous working conditions, discrimination and retaliation for speaking up or trying to organize”, adding “they have little recourse because of their need for work, especially during the pressing times of inflation and price rise. Workplace violations are severe and widespread in the low-wage labour market”.
Underscoring the importance for strict implementation of labour laws in the State, Tarigami said, “the overall condition of labourers in the State is pathetic and the department concerned is in deep slumber”, adding “number of complaints for not receiving minimum wages was galore owing to administrative inertia in Labour Department where some officers rarely bother to probe the deep rooted nexus”.
He urged the Government to act on the genuine demands of workers, which include strict implementation of Minimum Wages Act. “There must be a time bound schedule to enhance wages in favour of workers with the addition of variable Dearness Allowance (DA) for the industrial workers as applicable in rest of the country,” he added.
Stressing the need for computerization in Provident Fund Organization, Tarigami said, “last year in the same session I had raised this issue demanding issuance of smart cards to workers but the demands were unfortunately not met”. He urged the Government to look into this demand seriously so that there is no pilferage in the funds of poor labour class.
He also expressed serious concern over the deteriorated and inhabitable conditions of labour Sarais and said that it should be the priority of the State Government to create infrastructure and start renovation wherever needed.
Alleging discrimination with some districts in release of funds by the Planning and Development Department, National Panthers Party MLA, Harshdev Singh said, “there seems to be no parameters for release of funds. The funds are being released arbitrarily and without consulting the elected representatives of the people”.
Laying stress on consulting elected representatives while formulating State Plan, he said, “several House Committees have also given recommendations in this regard but till date Government has not paid any attention towards this vital suggestion”.
He urged the Government to approach the Government of India for bringing the sharing pattern under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes at par with North East States where the same is in the ration of 90:10 for all the schemes.
Expressing concern over delay in release of 100% funds earmarked for the bad pocket areas, the NPP MLA asked the Government to release the pending funds earmarked for the current financial year and ensure that funds don’t get lapsed. He also criticized the Government for releasing additionalities arbitrarily and said, “development should not be hostage to political expedience”.
While participating in the discussion, National Conference MLA Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal held poor planning responsible for time and cost overrun of the projects and stressed that mechanism should be evolved to ensure that projects of essential services are completed in time-bound manner.
Stating that planning should not be carried out within four walls of the room, Dr Kamaal drew the attention of the Government towards the exemplary initiatives taken by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in ensuring holistic development of the State in the time-bound manner.
He also asked the Government to ensure dignity of the labour class by conceding all their genuine demands.
Jammu State Morcha MLA, Ashwani Sharma also expressed serious concern over irrational distribution of additionalities and said, “there should be uniformity and justice should be done with all the districts”.
He also raised the issue of discrimination with the industrial workers and demanded strict implementation of the agreement vis-à-vis share of employment to the locals in the industrial units.
Congress MLA and former Minister, G M Saroori lashed out at Government for pick and chose in district plan allocation and said, “the district plan should be increased in proportionate to increase in the State Plan every year”.
He also expressed concern over delay in release of funds earmarked for the bad pocket areas and demanded that the funds should be increased from Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore for overall development of such areas.
Accusing the Minister of State for Planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma of diverting the funds to his own constituency at the cost of other Assembly segments of the Kathua district, Lal Chand said, “we will not tolerate any more injustice”, adding “Government has to ensure complete transparency in the planning process so that all the areas get due share”.
He demanded that remaining portion of the funds earmarked for the bad pocket areas should be released immediately and sufficient funds be released for the road projects in his constituency.
Independent MLA, Charanjeet Singh demanded strengthening of the District Development Boards and start of e-tendering in all the departments for proper utilization of the funds and transparency.
Ashok Kumar, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Ch Rashpal Singh, T Namgyal, Er Abdul Rashid, Aijaz Jan, Yashpal Kundal, Javid Ahmed Dar, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ashraf Ganai and Bharat Bushan also took part in the discussion.
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