Jammu, Apr 01: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday rejected a private member’s bill moved by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para seeking the regularisation of daily wagers, prompting a walkout by the entire opposition PDP legislature party in protest.
The bill, which sought to address the long-pending demand for job security and regularisation of daily wagers, casual labourers and need-based employees working across various government departments for decades, was shot down by the Treasury benches.
Following the government’s decision, PDP legislators staged a walkout from the House, expressing strong resentment against the administration’s stance.
Speaking to reporters after the protest, PDP MLA Para as per Kashmir Convener said the issue was one of “humanitarian” concern for workers who have served the government for 10 to 20 years.
“It’s been two years since we heard that there will be a regularisation. The SRO 520, which was done at the time of Mahatma Gandhi, was biometric and identified. When work is done, we know who the worker is. When we have to pay the salary, we say we don’t remember,” MLA Para said.
The PDP leader criticised the government for rejecting the bill and noted that the Chief Minister had sought more time to decide on the matter.
“You said it in your budget announcement. You said it last year. Even after a year, you are saying it will take more time. You must tell us a time-bound resolution. How long will this issue be resolved?” he asked.
Emphasising that the matter pertains to daily wagers, casual labourers, need-based, and contractual employees serving the public for decades, MLA Para accused the government of being selective in passing bills.
“Selectively, bills are passed here. Selectively, they are distributed. The government has the numbers. It doesn’t mean you won’t listen to the opposition. You should at least solve the issue of daily wages,” he said.
“The government has the power to regularise the daily wagers and give ownership of land to those living on state and forest land. If deliveries are regularised this year, make that decision time-bound. Like SRO 520 was a time-bound order. At that time, the financial implication for the government was not big. Do it again. You say you will process it again. We all know who the daily wagers are. It doesn’t need biometrics. It just needs a government order to pay them their salary,” Para added.
The rejection of the bill marks the latest flashpoint between the opposition PDP and the government over the issue of job regularisation, with the former accusing the latter of delaying a resolution despite repeated assurances.
Comments are closed.