Srinagar, January 21: The Chairman of the All J&K Water Testing Laboratories Staff Association, Mohsin Atta Bhat, has expressed strong resentment over the recent Cabinet meeting’s failure to address the regularization of contractual employees.
In a statement issued to Kashmir Convener, Bhat stated that water testing employees, many of whom have served for decades on meager salaries, are eagerly awaiting regularization, a commitment outlined in the National Conference (NC) manifesto.
He highlighted that these employees had been recruited through proper procedures and have consistently provided dedicated service while maintaining high qualifications. “The most pressing issue is the regularization of temporary and contractual employees, particularly those who have crossed the upper age limit and are struggling to make ends meet,” Bhat said.
Drawing a comparison to the NC-Congress regime’s previous term, where contractual and contingent employees were regularized under the Special Provision Act 2010 (SRO 255), he questioned why the same provision was not being extended to J&K’s contractual employees who were recruited through proper selection procedures.
He further added that water testing employees were appointed according to central government guidelines, which include provisions for regularization and honorarium. However, he noted, the government has adhered strictly to recruitment and monitoring guidelines but ignored the provisions for regularization and honorarium, which he described as a grave injustice.
Bhat also pointed out that in 2023, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department had recommended a 50% honorarium increase for these employees, which is still pending approval from the Finance Department, causing severe hardships for the staff.
He appealed to the Additional Chief Secretary (Jal Shakti Department) to intervene and push for the approval of the honorarium file with the Finance Department on a priority basis. Furthermore, Mr. Bhat urged the trade union leaders of J&K to prioritize this issue before government authorities, emphasizing that if their legitimate demands remain unmet, they will be forced to take to the streets in protest.
Lastly Bhat appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to convene a special Cabinet meeting to discuss and recommend the regularization of contractual employees, particularly water testing employees, in fulfillment of the NC party manifesto.
