DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
udhampur:
Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh on Friday said that they will regularize the daily wagers, if they form the next Govt in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Over 61, 000 daily wagers have been serving in various Govt Departments for the last more than two decades and working as back bone in many Departments. However, their services were not regularized, which is a violation of labour laws as well as human rights,” said Manjit Singh in his address in Udhampur.
He was addressing a worker’s meeting in Udhampur which was organized by J&K President of Apni Trade Union, Ajaz Kazmi, and Adil Shah.
On this occasion, dozens of people joined the Party in presence of Manjit Singh. While welcoming the new entrants into the Party fold, the Former Minister hoped that their joining would help the Party to expand its roots in Udhampur, and its rural areas where the people require an unbiased voice as their representatives. Appreciating the Udhampur Unit of the Party, Manjit Singh expressed satisfaction over the working of the Party and explained how President of the Party, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari braved all odds and laid the foundation of the Party when no one was ready to come forward to represent the voiceless people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his address, he referred to the plight of more than 61, 000 daily wagers who have been engaged for the last two decades in various Departments, yet they were not regularized. “These daily wagers are working more than permanent employees and facing harassment from their respective department regarding release of their monthly wages, and release of pending dues,” he recalled.
He said that the daily wagers have become an inseparable part and parcel of the Govt and hence, it becomes the duty of the Govt to resolve their genuine demands.
Condemning the Govt for delay in accepting the demands of the daily wagers, he said that if the Apni Party forms Govt in Jammu and Kashmir, they will regularize all the daily wagers.
“We will not tolerate any kind of discrimination with any worker/employee who serves people honestly. The Party acknowledges the hard work of the daily wagers,” he said, while paying tributes to those daily wagers who died while performing their duties.
He said that those daily wagers who died while performing their duties shall be provided compensation and a Govt job should be provided to their next of kins.
He also demanded a hike in their wages, regular release of monthly wages and implementation of minimum wage act in Jammu and Kashmir so that the violation of labour laws and exploitation of daily wagers could be stopped.
Meanwhile, he referred to the developmental aspect of Udhampur and appealed to the people to support the Apni Party so that it can form the Govt and end the disparity regarding developmental issues.
He assured the people that the Party and its leadership stands with them, and their issues would be resolved.
He however raised question marks on the earlier representatives of Udhampur, and its other constituencies for the lack of development, and poor condition of basic amenities.
Regarding the industrial sector, he said that Udhampur has established an industrial sector, and it is expanding to other acquired land in the district.
Expressing his concern over the increasing unemployment, he said that the industries department shall ensure that the unemployed youth whether skilled or unskilled should be given employment in the industrial sector and a proper reservation quota shall be fixed for them i.e., more than 80 %.
He also demanded that the Govt shall frame a policy to help the transporters to recover from the financial losses being caused to them following the launch of electric vehicles in the transport industry.
“The electric vehicles are important for the protection of the environment but at the same time, the traditional transporters should not be pushed to the wall. Therefore, the Govt must address their genuine demands by framing a policy for their welfare so that they do not suffer,” he said.
On this occasion, J&K President of the Apni Party’s Trade Union, Ajaz Kazmi also addressed the gathering.
Kazmi was concerned over the delay in holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir while terming it a discrimination with the people of an erstwhile historic state.
He demanded that the discrimination must be ended by declaring assembly elections in J&K, and statehood should also be restored so that an elected Govt can independently work for the people of J&K.
Prominent among those who were present and spoke on the occasion include District President, Udhampur, Hans Raj Dogra, Provincial President Minority Wing, Balbir Singh, Provincial President Apni Party Trade Union, Raj Sharma, District Vice President, Kewal Kumar, Provincial Vice President, SC State President, Bodh Raj Bhagat, OBC State President, Bhagat Ram, State Vice President Youth Wing, Vishal Nariana, District Vice President, Jagdev Singh, District General Secretary, Sat Pal Chalotra, Provincial President Youth Wing, Vipul Bali, District President Youth Wing, Ajeet Sharma, Provincial Vice President Transport Union, Devinder Singh Gill, Secretary Transport Union, Yash Choudhary, District President Trade Union, Anirudh Vasist, District President Youth Wing, Shivam Choudhary, Block President Youth Bari Brahmana, Irshan Choudhary, Adv Chetan Parbhakar, and others.
