Srinagar,25-Apr; CPI (M) leader, MY Tarigami on Monday expressed concern over J&K government’s failure and termed approving a hike in minimum wages of the daily wagers, including casual labourers, in all government departments from Rs 225 per day to Rs 300 per day as a cruel joke.Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Tarigami said despite unparalleled efforts of these temporary employees, their services have not been regularized till date by the successive regimes even though all the formalities and other information sought from time to time has been furnished by them.”Thousands of daily-wagers and casual labourers who are involved in implementing the programs and policies of the government and who play vital roles in keeping all essential services running are being deprived of their rights by the government. The government must implement Minimum Wages Act, release pending wages of all daily wagers, casual labourers and provide benefits against death cases of workers and consider cases of land donors,” he said. Tarigami said the weaker and poorer sections of the society have been totally neglected by the government which has severely hit their means of livelihood”, said Tarigami.Reacting to the PM’s visit, Tarigami said that Prime Minister did not utter a word about the promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, on the floor of parliament, when he visited here first time, after more than 2 and half years after its was disbanded and downgraded to UT.The Prime Minister was expected to address the aspirations of people of all sections, who are seeking restoration of full statehood and early restoration of democratically elected government but it has proved that centre does not bother about the people’s aspirations and hardships under the bureaucratic regime, not accountable to the people. Tarigami further expressed concern over the unprecedented power crisis in J&K claiming that the massive and recurrent power cuts have dampened the spirit of Ramzan.“The situation runs contrary to the claims made by the incumbent administration about availability of 24×7 power supply in metered areas,” he maintained adding: “Government takes crores of rupees in terms of tariff from the consumers but when it comes to providing round the clock power supply, it is abdicating responsibilities leaving the consumers high and dry.”(CNS)
