JAMMU, FEB 19: Police detained nearly a dozen protesters on Wednesday as they foiled a protest march by daily wagers demanding regularization of services and implementation of the Minimum Wages Act in Jammu, officials said.
The All J&K Daily Wagers Sangharsh Samiti had called for the march from Maulana Azad Stadium to the Civil Secretariat to highlight their longstanding demands.
Protesters, including a group of ASHA workers, gathered outside the stadium and raised slogans against the government and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration. However, when they attempted to proceed towards the secretariat, police intervened, detaining at least 10 protesters and dispersing the remaining crowd, which included several women.
Sunny Kant Chib, chairman of the Samiti, criticized the government’s response, saying, “We planned this peaceful protest to draw attention to our decades-long struggle for regularization and the enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, especially ahead of the upcoming budget session.”
He further highlighted that many daily wagers have been serving in various government departments for over 30 years without proper recognition or benefits. “We have been providing essential services, and it’s time the government acknowledges our contributions and delivers justice,” Chib added.
