4 PHE daily-rated workers attempt suicide

In a shocking incident, four PHE daily wagers Thursday attempted to suicide by pouring kerosene on themselves in front of their senior officials.

The incident happened at the office of Executive Engineer,PHE, Surjeet Singh in Kathua where the four workers were agitating for releaseof their wages “pending for last five years”.

   

As the Executive Engineer was trying to convince theprotesting workers, four daily wagers started pouring kerosene on their body,who were instantly stopped by other protestors.

Police was informed about the incident and all the fourworkers were taken into custody. They were identified as Kirishan Chand son ofJagdish Raj, Balvindr Singh sin of Ram Dass, Narinder Singh son of Balwan Singhand Bishamber Dass son of Shaju Ram resident of Kathua.

“They are demanding pending wages. They are absent from dutyfor last three months. The wages are blocked on direction from Government onthe policy of ‘no work -no wages,” said Executive Engineer, Surjeet Singh.

Singh said there are around 1550 daily wagers, casual or ITIworkers in PHE department in Kathua district working with them.  “Thedaily wagers have not received salaries across the state for last five years.The decision is to be taken up by the higher authorities,” he added.

One of the daily wagers told Greater Kashmir overphone that they had informed Deputy Commissioner Kathua and concerned PHEofficials over one month ago about possible suicide attempt by some of theagitating PHE daily wagers.

“We were in shock what we learnt about the suicide attempt,”said one of PHE daily wagers told GreaterKashmir.

Meanwhile, Tanveer Hussain, PHE Daily Wager Association,president said that “From last five years, wages of the daily wagers in PHE arepending and Government, despite assurance, has not released the wages.”

Hussain said they have given a call for Srinagar Chalo onJuly 23 under the banner of Employees Joint Action Committee in support of thedemand of the PHE workers (Daily wagers). He claimed that 23000 dailywagers/ITI/need based employees are in Jammu division and 10400 are in Kashmirvalley.

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