Srinagar, Feb 04 (KNO): Scores of Mali-cum-chowkidars (peon-cum-watchmen) staged a protest outside the Directorate of Rural Development Department (RDD) Kashmir at Lal Mandi here on Tuesday, demanding release of their long-pending wages.
The aggrieved workers said their wages have been withheld for over two decades despite repeated assurances from the administration.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), they said, “We have been working tirelessly without receiving our rightful dues.”
“How long will we suffer?” one of the protesters asked. He said that for over 20 years, they have been serving diligently, yet their salaries remain unpaid. “This is not just financial distress, but it is a violation of our rights, and we are struggling to feed our families and educate our children,” he said.
Another protester said they have approached everyone from department heads to ministers, yet the issue remains unresolved. “We met Minister Javid Ahmad Dar who wrote letters to the concerned department, but no action was taken,” he said.
Another protester said they work even on holidays, yet they are ignored. “We are committed to our duties, whether it is maintaining government premises or ensuring security. Yet, we are treated as if our work does not matter,” he said.
Moreover, the Mali-Cum-Chowkidars urged authorities to intervene immediately and resolve their grievances before they are forced to escalate their agitation. “If our wages are not released soon, we will be forced to intensify our agitation,” they said.—(KNO)