Jammu, January 29:
In a move to address the long-standing financial grievances of the Union Territory’s workforce, a high-level delegation of Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) employees met with the Hon’ble MLA Kathua, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, to seek a resolution for the persistent pay disparity issues.
The delegation, which included Mr. Beenu Sharma, General Secretary of the J&K MTS Association, presented a detailed representation concerning the wage gap that has affected thousands of employees across various departments.
The Core Issue: Seeking Pay Equity
The primary concern raised during the meeting involves the remuneration structure for MTS employees in Jammu & Kashmir. The Association pointed out that despite the transition to a Union Territory model, a significant disparity remains when compared to their counterparts in other UTs and the Central Government.
The delegation specifically highlighted:
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The impact of SRO 193 of 2018, which introduced sub-levels (SL1, SL2, SL3) and inadvertently created a wider pay gap.
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The demand for “Equal Pay for Equal Work,” urging the government to align J&K pay scales with the Central Civil Services norms.
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The need for a transparent promotion quota to ensure career growth for the ministerial cadre’s feeding categories.
Legislative Intervention Promised
Dr. Bharat Bhushan gave a patient and “attentive” hearing to the representatives. He acknowledged the vital role that MTS personnel play in the smooth operation of government machinery and agreed that their concerns regarding financial injustice warrant immediate attention.
“The issues regarding pay anomaly and career progression are critical for the morale of our workforce,” Dr. Bharat Bhushan stated. “I assure the delegation that I will raise this matter prominently in the Legislative Assembly to ensure that the genuine demands of MTS employees are heard and addressed by the administration.”
The interaction, held in a cordial atmosphere, concluded on a positive note, with the delegation expressing renewed hope that legislative backing would finally break the deadlock over their pay revision.
