Jammu: Police on Saturday foiled an attempted ‘Secretariat Gherao’ by hundreds of daily wagers from multiple government departments in Jammu, who had gathered to press for long-pending demands including regularisation of services, implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and release of pending salaries.
The protest was called by various daily wagers’ unions, which had announced a joint programme to march towards the Civil Secretariat. However, police intercepted the protesters at Indira Chowk and prevented them from proceeding further, citing law and order concerns.
Eyewitnesses said a large number of daily wagers assembled at the spot, raising slogans against the government and accusing it of ignoring their issues for years. The protesters said they have been working for decades on meagre wages without job security, social protection or timely payment of salaries.
The daily wagers said their protest was deliberately planned just ahead of the commencement of the Assembly session to draw the attention of elected representatives. They demanded that their issues be formally taken up and discussed in the upcoming Assembly session.
“Our demands are genuine and long overdue. We want regularisation, minimum wages as per law and clearance of pending dues. The Assembly must debate our issues,” said one of the protesters.
Police officials said the situation remained under control and no arrests were made, while the protesters later dispersed peacefully after being stopped from marching ahead. [KNT]
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