Hundreds of Public Health Engineering (PHE) daily wagers once again took to the streets in Jammu on Monday, demanding that the Jammu and Kashmir government table the long-awaited committee report on the regularization of their services in the Assembly.
This marks the second protest in less than a week by the PHE Employees United Front of Jammu province, following a similar demonstration held on October 23 — the opening day of the Assembly session.
With slogans echoing “We want justice,” “Report ko Assembly mein table karo,” and “Daily wagers ko regularise karo,” workers gathered at the Jal Shakti office, staging a sit-in to press their demands.
“We are not asking for anything extraordinary — only for the government to fulfill its own promise,” said Ravi Hans, leader of the PHE Employees United Front (Jammu Province). “The committee’s report on regularization was due in September, but we still don’t know its status. It must be tabled immediately during the ongoing session.”
Hans urged opposition leaders to raise the issue in the House and compel the government to act, reminding that the committee’s term ended last month without clarity on its findings.
He further added that while the union does not wish to inconvenience the public, workers will have no choice but to intensify protests if their concerns continue to be ignored.
The committee in question was formed on March 19 by the Jammu and Kashmir government, following a promise made by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The six-member panel, headed by the Chief Secretary, was assigned to examine the humanitarian, legal, and financial aspects of regularizing thousands of casual, seasonal, and daily wage workers across the Union Territory.
Despite the committee’s establishment and promises of a policy framework, no tangible progress has been made, leaving over 67,000 daily wage workers in uncertainty — many of whom have served the department for years without job security or benefits.
Their protest is not just a cry for wages or recognition — it is a plea for dignity, for a future where service is not treated as temporary labor but as a right earned through years of dedication.
The message from Jammu’s PHE daily wagers is clear: It’s time for accountability, transparency, and action.
