Daily-wagers in Jammu protest for job regularization

In Jammu, daily-wage workers protested on Monday, demanding permanent positions in their jobs. Since Friday, they have been striking, seeking assurance of regular employment. On Sunday, they extended their strike by 72 hours. During the protest, they called out against Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and the BJP. The workers managed to break through the first line of police barricades near the MLAs’ hostel. They attempted to reach the civil secretariat but were stopped by police who used batons to disperse them. Inder Parkash, one of the protesters, expressed that they are fighting for their rights and the survival of their families. Another daily-wager, Mohan Singh, highlighted their role in supplying water and criticized the police response to their protest. In response to the ongoing situation, Chief Minister Abdullah established a committee led by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo. This committee is tasked with finding long-term solutions for regularizing daily-wagers in government jobs. They have six months to report back. Abdullah emphasized the government's commitment to filling vacancies in Jammu and Kashmir's public sectors. The previous coalition government estimated that around 61,000 daily-wage workers are working across various departments. To regularize these workers, the government would need an annual budget of ₹1,925 crore.