Jammu, 26 September (H.S.): Retired permanent employees and casual daily-wage workers associated with the coal mines of J&K Minerals Department staged a protest at Kalakote, demanding the settlement of their long-pending pension, Provident Fund and other statutory retirement dues.

The protesting workers urged the concerned authorities to intervene immediately and ensure the release of their legitimate retirement benefits. They said the prolonged delay in the settlement of pension, PF, gratuity and other dues had caused serious financial hardships to several retired employees and their families.

Vijay Kumar Sharma, representing retired workers associated with the Metka, Mogla and Kalakote coal mine areas, said that many former employees were facing financial difficulties due to the non-payment of their retirement benefits. He demanded the immediate release of pending PF, pension and other statutory dues.

The protesters also sought the early settlement of pending cases concerning the legal heirs and widows of deceased mine workers. They demanded that eligible casual daily-wage workers and permanent workers be provided all applicable PF and pension-related benefits.

A major demand raised during the protest was the reopening of a regional CMPF office in Jammu. The protesters said that the shifting of the CMPF office from Jammu to Delhi around four years ago had caused considerable inconvenience to elderly pensioners, retired employees and widows, who are often required to travel to Delhi for the settlement of their cases.

The protesters further demanded the release of pending Sixth and Seventh Pay Commission arrears for eligible serving and retired employees, along with the benefits of revised pay scales.

They urged J&K Minerals Limited management to establish a time-bound mechanism for resolving CMPF, pension and other statutory dues and ensure that sanctioned amounts are directly credited into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.

ADC Kalakote Tanveer Ahmed reached the protest site and took up the matter with the Director General of J&K Minerals over the phone, who assured that issued would be addressed by November 7.

After receiving the assurances, the protesting workers called off their demonstration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar