 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 21: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta Friday said that the Omar Abdullah-led government, in keeping with the party's pro-poor and pro-worker legacy, is committed to protecting the interests and welfare of employees and workers in both the organised and unorganised sectors.
Gupta made these remarks while interacting with the delegation led by Thakur Nar Singh, President of the State Central Labour Union, accompanied by Senior Vice President Labour Wing Karan Singh, Provincial Secretary Labour Union Deep Mehra and other office-bearers of the union at the party's Provincial Headquarters, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. The delegation apprised him of various issues confronting the working class and sought the party's intervention for their redressal.
"The Omar Abdullah-led government is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people during its five-year mandate. The welfare of employees and workers remains a priority, and the government is working towards providing greater social security, dignity and economic protection to the working class," Gupta said.
Highlighting the measures undertaken by the government, Gupta said a phased and structured roadmap is being pursued for the regularisation of over one lakh casual, seasonal and daily-rated workers across various departments. He said a dedicated committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been constituted to examine the legal, humanitarian and financial aspects of regularisation.
"The government has taken important steps to strengthen the social security and welfare framework for contractual workers. Women employees working under various schemes have been provided 180 days of maternity leave, while efforts are being made to ensure enhanced and timely honorariums for ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and vocational instructors," he said.
Gupta also highlighted the government's efforts to fill 30,000 existing vacancies transparently in coordination with the Public Service Commission and Service Selection Board, saying that employment generation and strengthening the workforce remain key priorities.He, however, maintained that much more needs to be done to ensure that workers and employees receive the full benefits of the National Conference's pro-labour and pro-poor policies.
"Issues such as implementation of minimum wages, service conditions in public undertakings, regularisation of daily wagers, revival of closed public sector undertakings including J&K Cements, enhancement of medical allowance from ?300 to ?1,000, revival of labour welfare units and strengthening of labour benefit schemes require sustained attention. We are pursuing these issues and will continue knocking on the doors of the Centre and all concerned authorities for their redressal," Gupta said.
Gupta assured the delegation that the party would continue to raise the genuine concerns of the working class at every appropriate forum and work towards securing their rights, welfare and dignity.
Among others who were present included : Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary Jammu, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary Jammu, Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, S. Tejinder Pal Singh Provincial President YNC Jammu, Geeta Ji and others. |
