Tilak Azad
Jammu: Police today foiled Civil Secretariat Gherao of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Act Employee Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Employees Association under the banner of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) who are working on contractual basis for the last around 10 years since the launch of the flagship scheme in 2007-08 in the state.
“As the government has framed a policy for regularization of all contractual, consolidated, casual and daily wage workers but ignored the MGNREGA employees, we will observe complete shutdown,” protesters alleged.
However, the heavy contingent of police didn’t allow the protesters from Dogra Chowk who wanted to march towards Civil Secretariat Jammu to express their resentment against the negative approach of the government towards MGMREGA employees. The police also pacified the protesters to shun and call off their march towards Secretariat but they stick on their stand and ignore the plea of the state administration.
The rally which was led by EJAC Chairman Abdul Quyoom Wani and other leaders who were detained by the police during the march towards Civil Secretariat Jammu to maintain law and order. Later, the leaders were released by the police when the annoyed protesters blocked the traffic movement at Dogra Chowk over police action towards its leaders. The annoyed protesters further sat on dharna near the Dogra Chowk for half an hour over detention of their leaders while highlighting their issues during Secretariat gherao.
After receiving the information of blockade by the state administration that immediately contacted the concerned leader EJAC Chairman Abdul Quyoom Wani and invited for talk with government pertaining to the issue. On the assurance of government to sort out the issue, the protesters called off their March procession and returned back peacefully to their venue point. Later, the traffic movement has been restored for smooth functioning which was halted the protesters.
More than 1500 protesters in the morning hours were assemble at Exhibition Ground as the MGNREGA Employees Association had already called for Secretariat Gherao on December to express their resentment against the government over future of MGNREGA employees.
The protesters alongwith women employees of both Kashmir and Jammu regions were participated in the rally led by EJAC Chairman Abdul Quyoom Wani and other leaders against the unclear policy of the government regarding their regularization. The protesters requested the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan to fulfill their long pending demands of the employees without any delay.
EJAC Chairman while addressing the media said, “I have just received a call from the administration and let us hope the issue of MGNREGA employees will be sorted out calmly with any difference. He further stressed upon the government to make a suitable job policy commensurate with its oft repeated slogans and thereby assuring them, job security and sustainable livelihood.”
He said that thousands of highly qualified youth had been engaged under the MGNREGS scheme by the Rural Development Department on consolidated basis since the launch of the scheme without revising their salaries or framing any policy with respect to their regularization. He further asserted that the educated youth with adequate qualifications deserved the government jobs and suitable regularization policy which was the prime responsibility of a welfare state.
Qayoom Wani also made a fervent appeal to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to address the issue on priority as lacs of family members were dependent upon such employees for sustenance and livelihood.
