STATE TIMES NEWS
KISHTWAR: Senior Congress leader and MLA Inderwal, G. M Saroori asked government to release pending payments of contractors and wages of thousands of daily wagers, casual labourers as well as salaries of the employees of various corporations including teachers before Eid-ul- Fitr, who he said have not been paid a single penny for a long time now.
In a statement issued today, Saroori said: “the teachers, daily wagers, casual labourers who work with dedication have not been paid their wages for the past several months. These people do a lot of hard work without any returns. In view of the festivals of Eid and Diwali this is the time that government would realise the difficulties of these employees and issue orders for release of salaries”.
“The PDP-BJP Government had promised that it will bring change in the state, but it seems the only change they have brought so far is to deny wages to the hardworking employees, it is irony of sorts that these employees are not being paid even minimum wages,” Saroori said.
Speaking to a group of workers and employees of various corporations who called on him here today and have not received salaries for more than three months, Saroori assured them that he would take up the matter with the top authorities in the administration and also talk to the Chief Minister and Finance Minister in this regard.
In view of ensuing Eid-ul- Fitr, Saroori directed the officers to ensure that the people do not face any inconvenience on account of security, traffic management, drinking water, power supply, healthcare services and sanitation during the auspicious days.
He said that all the concerned departments should work in close coordination and proper measures should be put in place to ensure availability of essentials including rations, Atta, sugar, kerosene oil, LPG, meat, poultry etc on reasonable rates. He also called for intensifying the market checking to curb profiteering and black-marketing of essentials.
The Power Department was asked to replace all the damaged transformers before Eid and ensure uninterrupted power supply during these days. “There should be no disruption of electricity supply especially during Eid-Ul-Fitr,” Saroori urged Chief Engineer PDD Jammu.
The Municipality Officers of Thathri and Kishtwar were asked to ensure proper sanitation especially in and around the shrines and mosques in Thathri and Kishtwar areas besides also directed the RTO Kishtwar and Doda to ensure that proper transportation facilities are provided to the devotees during these days.
Saroori also urged DIG (Doda-Kishtwar Range), Nissar Ahmed, to ensure all security arrangements are in place before the festival in Chenab Valley to avoid repetition of any type of violence there on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Saroori urged both the communities not to hurt the religious sentiments of each other and asking all the communities to come together and strengthen the cords of brotherhood, peace and harmony in the State besides urged administration to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.