JAMMU, Apr 17: A high-level delegation of the Employees Joint Action Committee (Revolutionary) today called on Shri M. Raju, Commissioner/Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to present a detailed charter of demands aimed at addressing a host of long-standing issues affecting various categories of government employees across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation, led by EJAC-R President Babu Hussain Malik, comprised General Secretary Muzafer Nabi, Convener Yashpal Sharma, Vice President Kulwant Singh, along with senior members Kamla Sharma, Naresh Kumar, Arun Kumar, and others. The delegation conveyed the collective concerns of thousands of government employees and stressed the urgent need for redressal through administrative intervention and policy-level decisions.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a meticulously drafted memorandum highlighting a range of unresolved matters that have been persistently affecting employees’ morale, job security, and financial well-being. Chief among the demands was the immediate regularisation of daily rated workers, casual labourers, contractual appointees, need-based employees, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Rehbar-e-Khel and Rehbar-e-Janglat staff, employees under the National Health Mission (NHM), and Home Guards. The delegation noted that many of these workers have been serving for years without proper job security or service benefits, despite repeated assurances from successive administrations.
The EJAC-R also underscored the need to resolve the long-pending issue concerning the redesignation of need-based college lecturers as Assistant Professors (Contractual) under the provisions of SO 364 of 2020. The delegation emphasised that this redesignation would not only bring dignity to the roles these individuals have been performing but would also align their status with their qualifications and years of service.
Another major point raised during the meeting was the delay in the disbursement of retirement-related financial benefits, including GP Fund, Leave Salary, Gratuity, and Commutation amounts, which have reportedly been pending for over eight months. The EJAC-R appealed for immediate clearance of these dues to alleviate the financial hardships being faced by retired government employees and their families.
In addition, the delegation sought the release of the pending 2% Dearness Allowance (DA) installment, due from January 2025, which they noted has already been sanctioned by the Central Government. They also demanded a revision of the existing Medical Allowance and House Rent Allowance (HRA) in line with the prevailing rates in other Union Territories, citing the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures being faced by employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
The EJAC-R representatives further urged the Secretary GAD to address the long-standing issue of pay anomalies in the clerical cadre, which has remained unresolved despite several representations. They also pressed for expeditious disposal of all pending compassionate appointment cases under SRO-43 and SRO-120, asserting that these cases have a direct impact on the lives and livelihood of families who have lost a breadwinner while in government service.
Throughout the interaction, the EJAC-R delegation reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with the administration while firmly advocating for the legitimate rights and welfare of government employees. They appealed to the Secretary to take a sympathetic and time-bound approach to resolving these issues, which continue to cause distress across various departments and employee categories. The EJAC-R expressing hope that the administration would translate assurances into concrete actions in the larger interest of public service delivery and employee welfare across the Union Territory.