Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party Youth President and Parliamentary Candidate for Srinagar-Pulwama Constituency, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra here on Saturday addressed several public meetings during his trial campaign in several areas of Pulwama district.
He was accompanied by Several Party Functionaries. During the Campaign, he met dozens of contractual employees and listened to their concerns and assured them he would address their concerns if voted in the upcoming elections.
Parra said that the plight of more than 65,000 daily-rated, temporary, casual, seasonal, local fund, contractual teachers, contractual lecturers, contractual College level assistant Professors, contingency-paid, and other workers is of grave concern. He stated that he would advocate for their case in the Parliament of India and would raise and press the government to redress their case on a priority basis by making a Job Policy for them.
He emphasized that more than 65,000 “daily-rated workers” and others have been waiting for regularization for decades. “With the delay in regularization, they are deprived of a number of benefits like pay scale, grade pay, HRA, education allowance, etc., available to their colleagues in a pay scale performing similar and, in some cases, less onerous duties. These employees have been serving the department for the last 20 years and the government has made many promises to them. “But these promises have not been fulfilled,” he said.
During interactions with contractual lecturers ans contractual assistant Professors and other employees, Parra said that it’s evident that the current contractual scheme lacks consistency and fairness. Many individuals find themselves in a perpetual cycle of contractual employment without the opportunity for permanent positions, even after surpassing the age limit.
Under various schemes such as NULM, NHM, MGNREGA, and NRLM, thousands of employees have been working on a contractual basis for over a decade. However, there has been no concrete job policy for them, leaving their future hanging in the balance. The uncertainty surrounding their employment is detrimental not only to their financial stability but also to their mental well-being. It’s disheartening to witness dedicated individuals who have contributed significantly to various sectors being denied the security and dignity of permanent employment, Parra said.
Highlighting their plight, Parra said hundreds of employees are without salaries for many months, they are not able to fulfil our basic needs and are going through unimaginable pain. He said these employees have been completely neglected by the government. The authorities are yet to regularize their services and provide them equal pay for equal work. He said that highly educated youth have been working in MGNREGA, Rehbar-e-Khel, NRLM, NRHM and other departments with full dedication for years on a meagre honorarium that is not enough to support their families. Parra said that former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sahab’s policy in 2003 has enhanced the monthly salary of the contractual employees from 3,500 to 7,000.
Parra added that a Rehbar-e-Khel is paid a meagre salary of Rs 3000 pm and is to wait for 7 long years before he may be considered for regularization. There can be no worse example of exploitation than one comes across in the case of NYC made to discharge all the duties in different departments, performed by regular employees but paid literally a fraction of their total emoluments. He has demanded a uniform and fair Regularization and wage policy guaranteeing time-bound regularization and wage above the national floor wages.
Parra demanded the government provide proper job security for them. He added that the Government is showing a callous approach towards these employees. He promised contractual employees that he would leave no stone unturned in advocating their case in the parliament and would knock on every door to address the uncertainties that come with contractual employment if voted to power and ensure a more secure and fair working environment for all.
He added that these contractual jobs must be made more secure, offering stability and a sense of permanence to the employees. They should be extended with a clear path towards regularization, providing job security and peace of mind to the workforce. He further added that the salaries for contractual employees should be substantially increased to reflect the value of their contributions and to keep up with the rising cost of living. Fair compensation is essential to maintain a motivated and productive workforce, he added.
