MGNREGA Engineers Association Extends Support To Kashmir Counterparts
Announce Pen-Down Strike Till May 18, Threaten To Intensify Stir if Demands Not Met
Srinagar, May 16 : Jammu chapter of MGNREGA Engineers Association on Monday extended support to their Kashmir counterparts and announced to join the ongoing pen-down strike for various demands till May 18.
Musavir Wani, chairman of the MGNREGA Engineers Association Jammu said that government continues to give cold shoulder to the genuine demands of the qualified engineering and other staff despite assurances from time to time.
“There will be complete pen down strike till May 18,” Wani said, adding, “In case government fails to fulfill our genuine we will intensify the protests.”
Work in Rural Development Department in Kashmir has remained affected for the several consecutive days as MGNREGA Engineers Association continued with their pen-down strike in favour of their ‘long pending’ demands.
The Association has already issued an appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to “intervene” for fulfilling their “genuine demands.”
“We have already announced pen down strike till May 18,” President of the Association Shahnawaz Hussain told GNS.
He said that government continues to give “cold-shoulder” to their “genuine” demands despite constitution of two committees and recommendations by them.
Two committees were formed to look into the demands and but government has failed to fulfill promises made from time to time, he said. “Government agreed our demands in principal and formed two committees. The committees made recommendations but were not acted upon by the government,” he said, adding, “to protest against the indifferent attitude towards our genuine demands by the government, we have decided to extend pen-down strike by three more days and if there is still no headway we will then intensify our protests and chalkout new plans.” He also urged Lieutenant Governor to intervene into the issue on “humanitarian basis”.
Among others, the Association is demanding hike in salary and policy for regularization as “we have given our prime of life to make the MGNREGA and other schemes a success.” He said that staff carries out all developmental works in Rural Development department including Capex, SBM, and MGNREGA. Hussain also reiterated appeal to retired engineers engaged against Rs 30000 per month to withdraw voluntarily and not “betray” youth.