Shopian, Apr 23 (GNS): Jammu and Kashmir Homeguards’ Welfare Association held a protest over what they termed as administration’s inaction towards their demands of increment in remuneration and subsequent regularization.
The Association members assembled in front of Zainapora hospital in south-Kashmir’s Shopian district.
While talking to GNS, an Association member said, “Whenever the need of manpower arises in times of emergency or Republic and Independence day celebrations or services to Amaranth Yatra or Hajj pilgrims, the administration calls us. And each time, we have equally responded positively. Despite all this, we are not given fair payment and role.”
He said “the successive regimes have failed us. We approached government on several occasions regarding our demands but unfortunately nothing significant was done for us”.
We still are being paid some meagre 2500 to 2800 rupees at a time when the employees of the department in other states and union territories are getting around rupees 30,000 as salary, the member said.
“We had demanded for our regularization as well”, he said.
Another member remarked, “Given the fact that we are supposed to attend our duties only some eight days each month; this thing has dented our morale. We want to step in and want to come handy to the administration whenever they need us.”
The Association urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration currently led by Governor GC Murmu to hike the salaries of the home guard employees and regularize them on priority basis, so as to “work in tandem” with other government agencies. (GNS)