Jammu, Feb 10: Casual employees on Tuesday staged a strong protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Jammu, expressing anger over the absence of any announcement regarding their regularization in the latest budget.
The protesters said that despite repeated assurances by successive governments over the years, their demand for regularization has remained unresolved for decades. They alleged that the budget once again ignored the long-pending issue, leaving thousands of casual workers disappointed and frustrated.
Raising slogans against the government, the protesting employees warned that the agitation would be intensified if concrete steps were not taken at the earliest. They said continued delays have pushed many families into economic distress, adding that casual workers continue to serve in various departments without job security or assured benefits.
The protesters directly warned the government led by Omar Abdullah that failure to announce a clear policy and timeline for regularization would compel them to escalate protests across the Union Territory.
Security personnel were deployed in the area to maintain law and order, while the protest remained largely peaceful.
Casual employees reiterated that their demand is not new and urged the government to honour past commitments and bring an end to uncertainty surrounding their future. [KNT]
