MGNREGA workers demand regularisation; strike to continue

Srinagar, July 30: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) employees on Monday asked the government to regularise their services.
The employees, working as technical assistants, GRS and programme officers for the last many years, said they have been “neglected” by the successive regimes.
“We have been in the department for a long time, doing everything possible for developmental works in the rural areas,” said Syed Jaffar, Chairman All J&K MGNREGA Employees’ Association.
He said many employees have been suspended in Kishtwar and in the valley for being part of their strike.
“We will continue the strike till our demands are not met,” he said. “The suspension of our colleagues will not deter our resolve. We will not yield. We will fight till we are regularised.”
They said they have been moving from pillar to post with their issues.
“We met everyone from the ministers to directors, but earned only assurances. We fail to understand as to why the governments have been adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards our long-pending and genuine demands,” Bashir Ahmad, a technical assistant, said.
“We will take to streets in case the government fails to regularise us. The governor shall intervene.”
Director Rural Development Department, Qazi Sarwar, said the department has taken up the matter with the government.
“The government has formed a committee to look into their demands. The call has to be taken by the government,” he said.