SRINAGAR, September 12 (BANN): Hundreds of temporary, casual and seasonal workers from various government departments staged a massive protest demonstration in Srinagar on Saturday under the banner of the Jammu & Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum, pressing the government to formulate and implement a concrete policy for the regularization of daily wagers and casual labourers.
The protest was held at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, where participants raised slogans in support of their long-pending demands and carried placards highlighting what they described as the government’s failure to address the issue of regularization.
One of the prominent messages displayed by the protesters read, “We Have Given Our Youth, Now Give Us Our Rights,” reflecting their demand for employment security and a clear policy on their future.
Addressing the gathering, Forum President Sajad Ahmad Parray issued a strong ultimatum to the government, demanding that the administration make its position clear and announce a concrete regularization policy for thousands of daily wagers and casual workers on or before September 21.
Parray warned that failure to receive a positive response from the government by the deadline would leave the forum with no option but to intensify its agitation across the Union Territory.
He announced that the forum would begin a UT-wide ‘Kam Choor Hartal’ (complete work strike) from September 22, with participation expected from workers associated with various government departments.
The Forum President said the proposed agitation would continue indefinitely until their demands are addressed, while holding the government responsible for any disruption to essential public services arising from the strike.
The protesters reiterated that they have served government departments for years and are seeking a permanent solution to their employment status through a clear, transparent and time-bound regularization policy.
The forum has now set September 21 as the deadline for the government to respond, making the coming days crucial for both the administration and thousands of workers awaiting a decision on their long-pending demand.
