Tangmarg: In a heart-wrenching tale of unfulfilled hopes and relentless struggle, Arif Ahmed Khokhar, a daily wager with the Electricity Department in Tangmarg, retired after 25 years of service—still as a daily wager.
Hailing from Check Treran village of Tangmarg, Arif Ahmed Khokhar, son of Muhammad Abdullah Khokhar, joined the department in 2004 with dreams of securing a permanent position. However, despite his decades of dedication, he bid farewell to his job on the same terms he began—a daily wager.
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Arif Ahmed’s story is not unique. Across Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of daily wagers in various departments, including the Power Development Department (PDD), have been fighting for regularization. Despite knocking on every possible door and raising their voices for justice, their fate remains uncertain.
A farewell ceremony was organized by fellow daily wagers at the PDD Sub-Division office in Tangmarg, where colleagues bid an emotional goodbye to Arif Ahmed. Tears filled their eyes as they honored their comrade, who had given the prime years of his life to the department, only to return home empty-handed.
Speaking to this reporter, Arif Ahmed shared his disappointment: “I dedicated the best years of my life to this department, hoping that one day I would be regularized. But that day never came. I joined as a daily wager, and today, after 25 years, I am leaving in the same position. It feels like I have wasted 25 years of my life.”
As Arif Ahmed left the office for the last time, his eyes reflected deep sorrow and regret. His colleagues, understanding his plight, pooled some money to ensure he did not return home entirely empty-handed.
Arif Ahmed’s story highlights the plight of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir, who continue to work tirelessly without job security or the benefits of permanent employment. Despite their unwavering service, their dreams of regularization remain unfulfilled, leaving them in a state of despair and uncertainty.
The government’s inaction on the regularization of daily wagers has left many like Arif Ahmed questioning the value of their sacrifices.
