Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday assured the Legislative Assembly that casual labourers and daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir will be regularised in a phased manner within the financial year.
Responding to a bill introduced by MLA M Y Tarigami seeking regularisation of services of casual and other workers, the Chief Minister said the government was already committed to address the long-pending issue.
He said the process will be carried out in phases and reiterated that the assurance had been placed on record in the House earlier as well. ”It is the first day of the financial year and I have committed that within this financial year they will be regularised in a phased manner,” he said.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by members and said the government recognises the contribution and efforts of workers engaged on casual and daily-wage basis. He informed the House that the government is awaiting recommendations from a designated committee examining the issue, adding that the regularisation process will be implemented once the committee submits its report.
Reaffirming its commitment to regularisation of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly that the process will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year.
The Chief Minister said he did not oppose the intent behind the proposed legislation on regularisation, but expressed reservations regarding the timing of its introduction.“The government has already made a clear commitment that the process of regularisation will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year and we stand by that commitment,” he said.
He emphasised that the opposition was not to the sentiment of the Bill, but to its introduction at this stage, particularly when the Government has recently made an announcement on the matter. “Not even a month has passed since the commitment was made. I think that raising the issue on the very first day of the financial year appears meaningless,” he said. Chief Minister reiterated that the Government fully acknowledges the concerns of employees, who have devoted the prime years of their lives in service and affirmed that their regularisation remains a priority.
Calling for a constructive approach, he said the matter is currently under examination by a Committee and urged that its report be awaited. He appealed to legislator Tarigami to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill in view of the Government’s assurance and ongoing process. Later, satisfied by the assurances from the Chief Minister, legislator Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami withdrew his bill.
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