Srinagar, September 26 (Scoop News)-Maintaining that Government is well abreast with the problems of the employees and workers, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said every possible effort is being made to redress their grievances with a positive frame of mind despite limited revenue resources.
Speaking at the one-day convention of J&K National Trade Union Front here today, the Finance Minister said that removing hardships of its employees is the prime responsibility of the Government adding that mutual trust, goodwill and coordination between employees and the Government was pivotal for running the system smoothly. He said there is no case where Government has shown rigidity towards redressing grievances of the employees, adding that “it was our Government in 1999 that implemented recommendations of 5th Pay Commission in the State and again it implemented 6th Pay Commission recommendations in 2009 despite limited revenue resources, though it was a most difficult decision. He said that Government has met most of the demands of the employees including lowering qualifying age for getting full pensionary benefits from 33 years to 28 years, conversion of COLA into DA in PSUs which is an unprecedented decision. He said rates of Daily Rated Workers are being enhanced periodically.
Responding to the demands of the employees and workers, Rather said Government would sympathetically consider regularization of left over Daily Rated Workers engaged prior to 1994, provided they qualify the requisite norms. He said demand regarding enhancement of age limit from 58 years to 60 years has not been rejected, but this issue needs wider consultation with various stake holders in the State.
Maintaining that the Government do not want to put curbs on trade union activities, Rather said that they should not adopt the confrontational approach to seek solution to their problems. He said Government is open to address employees and workers all genuine demands in phased manner within the available resources. He said Government’s approach is very positive and employees should understand compulsions of the Government.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma said Government was serious to address the issues of the employees and daily rated workers adding that all the available resources are being mobilized in this regard. He sought full cooperation of the trade union leaders and employees in addressing their burning issues.
Regarding the regularization of leftover daily rated workers engaged after 1994 in PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, the Minister said that the complete information has been gathered in this regard. He said 6000 Water Supply Schemes are being run with the help of these workers and Government will do proper justice with them. He said PHE Department has worked out details of funds required for ensuring regular payment of wages to these workers adding that the Finance Department would also be approached in this regard. He said now onward the Department will make a fool proof mechanism and manpower component will be included in the new schemes to avoid such problems in future.
Asking the trade union leaders to play healthy role in highlighting the problems of the employees, the Minister said that Government always take their feedback seriously and make sincere efforts to redress their grievances. He asked the union leaders to inspire workers to improve work culture at the grass root level and improve delivery of public services.
Trade Union leaders including, State President, National Trade Union Front (NTUF), Mohammad Gafoor Dar, General Secretary, NTUF, Ghulam Rasool Geelani, President and All Kashmir PHE Daily Rated Workers Union, Tariq Ahmed Pampori also addressed the gathering and highlighted the problems of the employees. The demands which were raised by the leaders included, regularization of Daily Rated Workers engaged before and after 1994 in various departments, change of designation of technically trained workers, implementation of uniform wage policy, revival of LTC on the pattern of Central Government employees, enhancement of medical allowances, removal of pay anomalies of different categories.
Chief Engineer, PHE, Kashmir, A.M. Lanker, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Kashmir, Mir Javed Jaffer and large number of employees and daily rated workers from across the State were also present on the occasion.
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