Jammu, February 17 More than one lakh daily wage workers and casual laborers are currently employed across government departments in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the assembly on Tuesday, assuring that a legally sustainable approach is being adopted on the issue of their regularization.
In a written reply to a combined question from 15 members from both the treasury and opposition benches, the chief minister, who is in-charge of the General Administration Department, said a total of 1,00,501 workers have been registered through the online Aadhaar-based biometric identification and skill profiling system.
He said the registered workforce includes 69,696 casual laborers, 8,836 daily rated workers, 8,534 seasonal laborers, 5,757 food and civil supplies helpers, 2,153 part-time sweepers, and 1,929 persons employed through the hospital development fund.
The highest concentration – 38,585 workers – is in the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation & Flood Control Department. This is followed by 13,616 in the Power Development Department, 12,646 in Education, 8,317 in Forest, and 6,801 in Public Works (R&B).
Significant numbers are also employed in Health & Medical Education (4,868), Agriculture (4,776), Animal & Sheep Husbandry (2,170), Housing & Urban Development (1,702), and other departments, the chief minister said.
Of the 57,390 registered workers in the Kashmir division, the highest 11,825 are in Srinagar district, followed by 8,823 in Anantnag, 7,724 in Baramulla, 5,772 in Budgam, 5,547 in Kupwara, 4,056 in Ganderbal, 3,321 in Kulgam, and 2,771 in Bandipora, Abdullah said.
Similarly, among the 40,077 registered workers in the Jammu zone, the highest 13,425 are in the Jammu district, followed by 5,191 in Rajouri, 3,856 in Doda, 3,451 in Kathua, 3,210 in Reasi, 2,754 in Kishtwar, 2,518 in Udhampur, 2,455 in Poonch, 1,722 in Samba, and 1,495 in Ramban, the chief minister said.
Amid concerns over the long-pending regularization of daily wage workers and casual laborers, he said a high-level committee was constituted on March 19 last year to examine the issue in a holistic manner.
“The committee is undertaking a detailed and comprehensive examination of all related aspects in consultation with the concerned departments. The government will examine the recommendations of the committee and take further appropriate action in accordance with legal and financial propriety,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah reiterated that his government remains committed to addressing the issue in a fair, transparent, and legally sustainable manner.
“The time taken in the process does not reflect administrative inefficiency or policy apathy, but is attributable to the need for a legally sound and financially sustainable approach. Appropriate action shall be taken upon receipt of the committee’s recommendations within the established legal and fiscal framework,” the chief minister said.
