A day after their colleague sustained severe burn injuries due to an electric shock near deputy commissioner’s office in Kupwara town while repairing a transmission line , the daily wagers of Power Development Department Saturday protested against alleged pathetic attitude of authorities.
The workers went on a three-day strike from today to press for their demands.
Bilal Ahmad Shah, a daily-wager working as linemen in Kupwara town was referred to Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) yesterday after receiving the electric shock while he was on duty.
The protesting daily-wagers said that they were without wages for past three years. They demanded regularization of their services and release of their wages forthwith.
“For past many years, the daily wagers are working round the clock. In return they are getting peanuts from the department. Our services are not recognized and the regularisation is deferred for unknown reasons,” said Tanvir Baba, district general secretary of daily wagers’ union.
“Most of the maintenance work is carried out by the daily wagers. Our children are facing starvation as the department has not paid us a single penny for last three years,” he added.
“Our co-worker Bilal is battling for life at SKIMS and no official has bothered to visit him so far not to speak of extending him cash compensation for treatment,” Baba claimed.
According to the protestors at least five daily wagers have been disabled and one has lost life due to electric shocks while on duty during past one year.
Ghulam Rasool Pir, a daily wager and Halmatpora village resident was electrocuted in March last year while repairing a transmission line, they said.
Right hand of Ghulam Mohidin Bhat, 40, from Deedikote village, a daily wager, working as lineman in Kupwara town was rendered partially disabled due to three electric shocks while on duty during past year, they added.
Mohd Amin Zunga, executive engineer, PDD division Kupwara said, “I advised the daily wagers not to act in haste and take precautions while repairing the transmission lines.
“They (the PDD daily wagers) fall under government’s recent regularisation policy. Thankfully the daily wager who received electric shock yesterday is out of danger,” he added.