Srinagar : The non-payment of wages forced hundreds of causal labourers from Department of Tourism to hit to roads for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Hundreds of Tourism causal labourers assembled outside Tourism Department and chanted slogans. They alleged that authorities at the Department are callous towards their demands.
The protesting causal labourers were carrying placards and banners seeking justice. They demanded immediate release of their salaries. They said since 2014, they haven’t taken a single penny from the Department despite round the clock service being rendered by them.
According to the National Informatics Centre (NIC) website of the tourism department, a total of 342 casual labourers are registered but the protestors alleged that only 14 of them get the wages.
The protesting causal labourers alleged that authorities are keen to lapse the funds and are not willing to provide them salaries. “We requested authorities many a times but no heed was paid to their repeated pleas despite the fact department has sufficient funds and can easily release our salaries,” the protesters told news agency CNS.
The protestors said that an order directing release of wages was issued on October 24, 2018, and another order was again released on January 1, 2019, but those orders were not implemented.
They alleged that the order prohibited the release of separate bills but Nigeen club account is releasing salaries for 14 individually.
“We are suffering a lot but the department is in no mood to redress our problems. The department spends huge amount on festivals and other recreational activities but is reluctant to release our pending salaries,” they said adding that on the recommendations of 4 member committee, Commissioner Secretary had ordered the release of payments and yet the salaries were not released.
They threatened to lock down all the offices of Tourism Department if their demands are not fulfilled.
They made a fervent appeal to Governor Administration to intervene and address their problem. (CNS)
