MGNREGA’s GRS Association (Kashmir Province) Holds Daylong Strike For Early Redressal of ‘Genuine’ Demands
Srinagar, July 9 : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Gram Rozgar Sevaks’ wing for Kashmir Province held a daylong peaceful protest to press the government for redressal of their demands here.
The association members, which as per GNS, had assembled here at Press Enclave said that they are protesting for an early redressal of genuine and legitimate demands, ‘which have been tabled by the association before the authorities both at Secretariat/Directorate level since 2018.’
“Three Departmental Committees were constituted from time to time vide Government order number 344/RD and PR of 2017 dated 28/12/2017, 169 RD&PR of 2018 dated 7/7/2018, 274-RD&PR of 2021 for the demands we are protesting for, however till date no concrete decision have been made in this regard”, they lamented.
Explaining their issues, they said; “In the year 2018 a proposal titled as ‘Proposed Revised Monthly Remuneration’ with reference Minimum of Pay level as per SRO 193 of 2018 Dated 24/04/2018 was submitted by the then Director RDD Kashmir vide No DRDK/Estt/ 26063 Dated 28/08/2018, resubmitted again with the same recommendations vide No. DRDK/Estt/46920 Dated 09/09/2020”, they said adding “In addition a draft proposal for amendment in J&K RDD subordinate recruitment Service rules 2007 notified vide SRO 178 of 2007 Dated 09/05/2007, with the recommendations for amendment in service rule on the directions of the then Secretary to the Government vide Order No. Estt/19207 dated 14/08/2018 was submitted by Director Rural Development Jammu. But the final Government decision in this regard is still awaited.”
They further said that in the year 2019 a file for absorption of MGNREGA Support staff against the existing available vacancies of the Department of RD & PR has also been framed and also approved by then Advisor (KS) on the recommendations of the then Secretary to the government was also submitted to the Law and Finance Department Vide No. RD & PR/ Adm/85/2018 Dated 24/10/2019 which consists 15 note Para pages and 48 case file pages, In this regard the final Decision is also awaited.
“The enhancement of remuneration is also on cards of the Department since August 2020 but till date no increment has been made, despite recently announced by the worthy commissioner secretary via electronic media.”
The Association employees rued that the salary of the staff has also not been paid since 8 months and as such the two holy occasions ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ and ‘Eid ul Adha’ passed without them getting salary.
“The recent ‘highly condemnable’ remarks of worthy commissioner secretary particularly against the GRSs during the state level meeting held on 08/07/2022 forced us again to show our resistance against such ‘baseless’ remarks”, they said adding we strongly oppose such remarks and in the meanwhile we urge the higher-ups not to let us down by repeating such ‘uncalled for statements’.