Jammu, 18 February (H.S.): The daily rated workers of Power Development Department (PDD/ JPDCL) today held strong protest demonstration, cautioning Government to go for total black out in the region if their issue was not resolved within two days.
A large number of daily wage workers under the banner of PDL/TDL and Other Workers Union led by its president, Akhil Sharma assembled in the office complex of Managing Director, Jammu Power Development Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) near Panama Chowk in the morning and held strong protest demonstration. The agitating workers were carrying banners and placards in their hands, depicting slogans.
They later sat on day long protest dharna at the same venue. They were shouting loud slogans in support of their demands. They were demanding their regularisation and enhancement of their wages.
While speaking on the occasion its president said that many workers are rendering their services even for the last 20 to 25 years in the PDD but they have not been regularized. The higher officials and even the political leaders from various parties assured them for the regularisation but till date many of them have turned over aged and were not regularized.
Another speaker said that they are getting Rs 300 as daily wage and the same has not been enhanced since long. They are unable to feed their families with just Rs 9000 per month. He said over 70 percent of the workers are daily wagers in the PDD running the power system in the region but they have been left to face exploitation.
He said they must be provided wages as per the rate in other UTs and their services be regularized without any more delay, failing which they will launch indefinite agitation. They have given two days ultimatum to the Govt to decide their fate otherwise they will go for black out in the region. Later, they also submitted a memorandum to the MD of JPDCL.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar