JAMMU: Protest launched by the food and allied workers in main food stores at Jammu, entered into 12th day today while similar protest was launched in Srinagar.
The protesting workers raised slogans in support of their demands, which include enhancement of loading-unloading of bag rates as per price index, grant of minimum guarantee wage on FCI pattern, payment of wages by 10th of each month and engagement of 17 work era at Muffasil depots.
While addressing the protesters, President of the Union, Bishan Dass explained that loading-unloading charges have not been increased right from 2012 even as the prices of all essential items have multiplied since then.
He added that the workers are also aggrieved on account of delayed payment of monthly wages, which adversely affects the benefits of PF, ESI, LIC etc.
Ex- Minister Ch Zulfkar Ali supported the Food and Allied Workers Union demands stating that the demand of the labourers is quite genuine and merits consideration but bureaucrats at the helm of affairs create hurdles in its redressal, he said and appealed to the Governor for his intervention to rescue them and to save the food crisis in the State.
He warned to further intensify the ongoing agitation and extend the same to muffasil Food stores in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir State.
“If our demands are not conceded, the operations in all food stores across the State shall be struck,” he threatened.
They also appealed to the government for lending immediate attention in resolving their demands.