Jammu, April 1 Reiterating his government's resolve to address the long-standing issue of regularizing daily wage workers, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the recommendations of a designated committee, expected soon, will be implemented.
He made the remarks while opposing a bill moved by CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami in the legislative Assembly.
The bill seeks to regularize the services of casual and other workers working in various government departments for decades.
"The government's opposition is limited to the bill's introduction, not to the sentiment behind it. There is a broad consensus on the need to regularize the workers who have served for years," the chief minister said.
Abdullah said that during this session, he has repeatedly stated that they will begin the process of regularizing all these workers this year in a phased manner.
"I have stated this in the House: if we had gone back on our word, or if nine or ten months had passed since making that commitment and we had done nothing, then perhaps I would have agreed with Tarigami that we should accept this bill," he said.
On March 19 last year, Abdullah announced the formation of a six-member committee headed by the chief secretary to address the issue of regularizing daily wage workers and said that a roadmap will be prepared for presentation in the next budget session before the house.
Regularization of thousands of daily wage workers remains a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir, as a majority of these workers have been rendering services in various government departments for nearly three decades.
"Today is the first day of the financial year and I have committed that within this financial year, meaning from April 1 to March 31, 2027, we will act. If, on the very first day, I admit this bill and accept that we have done nothing and now need this bill for regularization, then my commitments made to this House—during the budget speech, the Lieutenant Governor's address, and in responses to various questions—would become meaningless," Abdullah said.
The chief minister said his government wants all those people, who have devoted the best years of their lives in service of the people, should be regularized in some way.
"We are awaiting the recommendations of the committee. As far as I know, the committee will complete its work soon. Once the recommendations come, we will implement them so that the assurance I have given to this House can be fulfilled," he said.
Tarigami later withdrew his bill.