J&K Daily Wagers Announce Peaceful Agitation on September 1 Over Regularisation Delay | State Correspondents

Jammu & Kashmir / Governance

Daily Wagers Announce Fresh Stir on September 1 Over Regularisation Delay; Warn of Hunger Strikes

Casual and daily-rated workers urge the government to fulfill assembly commitments, citing financial distress and prolonged policy inaction.

By: State Correspondents news Desk | Location: Srinagar / Jammu

SRINAGAR: Expressing deep frustration over the prolonged inaction regarding their permanent absorption, the Jammu and Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum has declared a peaceful protest across the Union Territory on September 1, warning of intense agitation if their long-pending demands continue to be neglected.

Addressing media persons at the forum’s Central Office on Exchange Road, Lal Chowk, Forum President Sajjad Ahmad Parray stated that around 61,000 casual and daily-rated workers across diverse government departments have been pushed into acute economic distress due to continuous administrative delays.

“A committee headed by the Chief Secretary was constituted on March 11, 2025, to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for regularisation and submit its recommendations within six months. Despite seventeen months having passed, the report has not seen the light of day,” Parray lamented.

Awaiting Execution of Assembly Assurances

The leadership noted that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier assured the Legislative Assembly that the formal process for regularising casual employees would commence within the ongoing financial year. However, workers on the ground are yet to witness any tangible implementation or official timeline.

Highlighting the socio-economic challenges faced by the workforce, the forum pointed out that tens of thousands of families are surviving on an meager monthly honorarium of roughly Rs 9,000, which has made it nearly impossible to keep pace with escalating living expenses, medical bills, utility tariffs, and educational costs.

Core Concerns & Proposed Roadmap

Livelihood Insecurity: Approximately 61,000 daily wagers and their dependent families remain in perpetual uncertainty despite years of dedicated public service.
Unreleased Roadmap: Demand for immediate public release and execution of the Chief Secretary-led high-level committee’s regularisation report.
Solidarity Against Division: The forum cautioned against attempts to create rifts among various cadre groups, reaffirming absolute unity across all government departments.

Parray clarified that the September 1 demonstration marks the first phase of their renewed democratic agitation. The forum cautioned the administration that if a structured, permanent solution is not rolled out swiftly, the workers will be compelled to escalate their stir into statewide hunger strikes and coordinated work stoppages.