DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
VIJAYPUR (SAMBA), Aug 29
A deputation of industrial labourers today called on the Apni Party Provincial President, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh.
The deputation composed of dozens of the industrial labourers met the Former Minister to deliberate about the long-standing issues which were not addressed by the Govts.
On this occasion, Apni Party’s ST Wing, State President, Saleem Alam also present.
These labourers work in the industrial sector of Samba District, and they have no representation to address their grievances amid their exploitation and blatant violation of labour laws by the industrialists in the Samba, Jammu, and Kathua Districts.
Upon listening to their issues, the Former Minister assured that if the Party comes to power, it will address their issues, and will hold the faulty industrial units for the violation of rules that regulates their operations, and provides protection to the labourers from the exploitation.
He said that the complaints about the violation of labour laws, and exploitation of local labourers by the industries in Samba, Kathua, and Jammu were not new, but many such complaints were received in the past, and voice was raised.
As there was no elected Govt in J&K, he said the authorities turned blind eyes, and did not give heed to the concerns of the industrial workers/labourers.
“The industrial units have also engaged workers/labourers on contract basis in place of providing them employment as per the industrial rules. Thus, they openly violated the rules that were meant to promote industrialization with sustainable development, generating employment at the local industrial units, and developing the surrounding areas to avoid water and soil pollution,” he added. He further stated that the groundwater has become polluted in the surroundings of the industrial estate in Bari Brahmana, and other areas in Samba, and the situation has become alarming for the local residents in these areas.
“The Jal Shakti Department and the industrialists have not done anything to address the issue.
The industries have also polluted the environment by not adhering to the guidelines of the pollution control board, and similarly, the said board is sleeping over the issue,” he further stated. He said that the Apni Party has committed to make revolutionary reforms in the industrial policy by holding accountable the industrial units, which violate the labour laws, do not employ local youth, and engage labourers/workers/skilled workers from the out of Jammu and Kashmir.
“These industries were opened to benefit the local economy, and the youth to generate employment. However, these industrial units take benefits of the Govt schemes, and subsidies and then close their units after several years, without clearing the dues of their workers/labourers. Hence, these labourers fight for years in the courts against the influential industrialists and this situation further adds to the suffering of the poor people,” he stated.
Meanwhile, he said that the Apni Party would ensure justice to be done with the labourers / workers in industries and the contract system can be ended by providing permanent employment to the youth, free medical support and insurance to the employees/workers/labourers in the industrial sector.
