Srinagar: The Jal Shakti department employees continued their protest for the second successive day on Thursday against a government order, transferring functions and functionaries of several PHE divisions to Urban Local Bodies as mandated under the 74th constitutional amendment.
Scores of employees, casual labourers and daily wagers assembled in the premises of Jal Shakti department in Srinagar and stage a protest against the government order, threatening to stop the water supply in the valley if it was not revoked.
Shouting slogans in favour of their demands, the protestors alleged that the order has put the future of the employees and casual labourers in jeopardy. “Under the 74th constitutional amendment, the administration is transferring the staff, schemes and distribution system to municipal committees,” President of J&K Casual and Daily Wagers Forum of PHE Department Sajad Ahmad Parray told UNI.
However, he said the move will adversely affect the employees and causal labourers as the PHE has service rule and corporations have business rules. “The benefits enjoyed by the employees and causal labourers in PHE will come to an end once they are transferred to corporations,” he said.
“The employees are currently covered under pension schemes, but there is no provision of pension in corporations,” he added.
“The administration should either cancel the order or transfer the employees to these corporations on deputation so that their service benefits remain intact,” Parray said.
He said if their demands were not fulfilled, they will intensify the protest and stop the water support in the valley.