Years of protests, strikes may finally yield results
VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: In a significant administrative development, the long-pending issue of regularisation of Daily Wagers (DWs) engaged in the Public Works (R&B), Power Development Department (PDD) and Public Health Engineering (PHE) is likely to be placed before the Cabinet in its forthcoming meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, official sources said.
The proposed move follows years of protests by thousands of Daily Wagers, Need-Based Workers, Casual Labourers, ITI-trained Helpers and CP Workers who have been serving these key infrastructure departments for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years without formal service status.
These workers play a crucial role in maintaining roads, clearing snow, restoring damaged highways, repairing and maintaining power transmission and distribution networks, and operating rural drinking water supply schemes. During harsh winters, floods and peak summer breakdowns, they are often the first responders, working in difficult and hazardous conditions to restore essential services.
Despite prolonged service, many continue to receive meagre wages, frequently delayed for months. In the absence of regularisation, they remain deprived of GPF, medical cover, insurance and promotional avenues, leaving thousands of families in financial uncertainty.
Over the past two decades, the demand for regularisation has triggered repeated protests across Jammu, Srinagar and various district headquarters. Workers, under different unions, have staged dharnas outside the Civil Secretariat, held sit-ins at Chief Engineer offices, organised pen-down strikes and work boycotts, blocked roads and undertaken hunger strikes. Memorandums were submitted to successive governments seeking a one-time settlement.
In the Power Development Department, employees had cautioned that continued neglect could impact maintenance of transmission and distribution systems, particularly during peak winter snowfall and summer load seasons. PHE workers maintained that they are central to implementation of rural water supply schemes, including works under the Jal Jeevan Mission, yet continue to lack job security. Similarly, PWD workers have repeatedly highlighted the risks they face during snow clearance and emergency restoration works without insurance or legal safeguards.
Several phases of agitation saw detentions of protesting workers. Many continued their struggle despite salary stoppages, expressing hope that the government would frame a comprehensive regularisation policy.
The issue has remained entangled in legal and administrative complexities, particularly in view of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Uma Devi case, which placed restrictions on blanket regularisations. However, employees argue that their engagements were made through departmental processes and that their continuous service over decades warrants a policy intervention.
Earlier governments had constituted committees and explored one-time settlement mechanisms, but the proposals failed to reach implementation stage, leading to growing discontent among workers.
Sources said the present dispensation is examining a structured framework that may include fixing a cut-off date, verification of engagement records, categorisation based on length of service and skill qualification, phased absorption and assessment of financial implications.
The Finance Department is understood to be evaluating the fiscal impact of regularising the workers. Officials believe that since these employees are already drawing wages from the state exchequer, formal regularisation may rationalise expenditure rather than create entirely new liabilities.
The proposed Cabinet consideration assumes political significance as the government led by Omar Abdullah seeks to address long-standing employee grievances. Regularisation of daily wagers has remained one of the most sensitive socio-economic issues in Jammu and Kashmir, affecting thousands of families across the Union Territory.
Union leaders have cautiously welcomed reports of the matter being placed before the Cabinet but said they would await a formal order.
“We have received assurances in the past as well. This time, we hope the decision culminates in a concrete government order,” a union representative said.
With the Cabinet meeting expected shortly, all eyes are on the government’s final decision. If approved, the move could mark a major step towards resolving the decades-old issue of daily wagers in the PWD, PDD and PHE departments across Jammu and Kashmir.
