Shakeel A Khan
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 8: With new dispensation in place, there seems to be no respite for the daily wagers and the casual employees. Not to talk about their meagre compensation, they are compelled to attend their duties even on Sundays.
As learnt from the sources, the daily wagers and the casual employees of Estates Department were ordered to remain present in the secretariat by some officers drawing severe criticism, not only from the these employees, but from the common masses as well.
Sources told Early Times that all this has happened due to a handful of officers, who have personal interests in this. By this act, the estates department is flaying the norms, said the sources.
"Ever since the move offices opened in the summer capital, the daily wagers and the casual employees are asked to make their presence sure in the secretariat from morning to evening. Though there isn't any formal order regarding this, but it is happening," said the sources.
An official from General Administration Department (GAD) said on the condition of the anonymity, "The only thing I can say that to force the casual and the need basis employees to attend their duties on Sundays is purely the violation of the labour laws. Duties can be realized from the employees on Sundays in case of emergencies only." On the other hand, as the people say, the traffic police personnel, who have a very sensitive job of regulating the traffic, remain missing from their beats on Sundays. While the traffic police are not accountable for remaining away from their beats, it is the poor casual employee or the daily wager who always faces the axe.
People from all parts of the valley, particularly from the summer capital say that the traffic police personnel don't discharge their duties on Sundays treating themselves as not responsible.
People say that the transporters neglect the traffic signals in the absence of the traffic police personnel, which often leads to the fatal accidents.
"Sundays produce different pictures as most of the traffic police personnel are seen missing from the beats as they prefer rest over their duties. It leads to traffic snarls and some times in the fatal accidents as well," said Farhan from Jehangir Chowk, while talking to Early Times.
Farhan, a businessman by profession, added that on June 7 he saw many traffic police personnel missing from the beats, giving the transporters chance to violate the traffic rules. In the absence of the traffic police, the transporters try to overtake each other while ignoring the traffic signals, said Farhan. |
