Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 14: A key policy rolled out by the previous PDP- BJP government for regular engagement of casual, seasonal and other workers has been pushed into cold storage as not a single daily-wager has benefited from the scheme in the past one-and-a-half year.
Details available stated that empowered committee- which is empowered to recommend regularization of casual, seasonal and other workers-has not held any meeting in the past 17 months.
The panel last time met on January 2, 2019 and since then no such meeting has been convened even as thousands of daily-wagers are running from pillar to post for their regularisation.
According to documents, only 578 cases were cleared by the empowered committee under the policy during its meetings held till January, 2, 2019.
In its Ist, 2nd , 3rd , 4th, 5th and 6th meetings, the committee headed by Finance secretary and comprising senior bureaucrats respectively cleared only 22 117,33,138,174 and 94 cases. The government’s apathetic attitude in implementation of the policy has come under criticism from different quarters.
“On one hand, the government talks about good governance and welfare of employees, but on the other, it has failed to regularize casual, seasonal and daily-wagers working in different departments. We appeal Lieutenant Governor LG Manoj Sinha to revive the policy put in cold storage by bureaucrats,” a group of daily-wagers said.
In December 2017, the government unveiled a policy for regular engagement of casual/seasonal and other workers.
The policy provides for monthly consolidated remuneration ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 24,000 to the appointees if their period of engagement is above 10 years and if they possess minimum qualification of 8th standard or above.
It is worthwhile to mention that government had disclosed in the Legislative Assembly that number of casual, seasonal and other workers was 1,00,501. (KNO)
