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Employees grievances deserve priority resolution

Kashmir Times. Dated: 3/19/2017 11:35:14 PM

Dear Editor,
In the State of Jammu and Kashmir, employees, Pensioners, daily wage workers and all other sections are being made to suffer financial and other multifarious types of problems as the State government is maintaining cryptic silence over their long over due grievances. The cost of living is becoming dearer day by day as prices of almost all goods of daily consumption are soaring sky high.
They have expressed their anger and languishment against the apathetic attitude of the State government through-out the State by taking part in rallies Dharnas and demonstrations organized by the All J&K Low Paid Employees Federation Headed by a veteran trade union leader Com. Abdul Majid Khan as the government appears to be least bothered about their miseries and hardships. There are reports in the news media that the Central government is likely to release D.A installment in respect of its employees and pensioners from January 2017 whereas the J&K Government has not so far paid previous D.A installment from July 2016.
Moreover, the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission has long back been implemented by the Central Govt and paid the arrears in cash to its employees and pensioners. A deputation of LPEF met the Chief Minister in the month of February 2017 seeking immediate implementation of 7th CPC’s recommendations on Central pattern and speedy redressal of other grievances but State government’s response in this regard is awaited.
Medical Allowance in respect of sitting and former Ministers and legislators was long back raised to Rs. 5000 per month whereas the employees and pensioners continue to be paid at a meagre rate of Rs. 300 per month. This is required to be enhanced to at least Rs. 1000 if not Rs. 5000 in view of astronomical rise in Medicare expenses. The minimum daily wage (MDW) in vogue in the State is too meagre which do not suffice to meet their bare minimum needs.
If we engage a labourer even for a day for domestic purpose he has to be paid wage Rs. 400 or 450 a day. The M.D.W is, therefore, required to be raised to at least Rs. 350 soon. The remuneration of village guards is quite meagre which is required to be raised at par with minimum daily wage in vogue in the State and honorarium of Numberdars is also required to be raised commensurate with rise in price index. The services of Adhoc, contractual & consolidated paid employees and daily wage workers may be regularized on completion of 7 years service to save them from the horrors of insecure service prospects.
—Krishan Singh,
Talab Tillo,
Jammu