Pensioners decry anti-employee policies as discrimination worsens in IIOJK
Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, pensioners and senior citizen have raised alarm over the worsening plight of serving and retired employees, saying that government policies continue to discriminate against the people of the UN-recognized disputed territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the remarks came during a joint press conference addressed by leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners and Senior Citizen United Front including Babu Hussain Malik, Girdhari Lal Chanda, Yash Paul Sharma, Madan Sangral, Prem Paul Singh, R K Kalsotra and Koushal Kumar. They expressed deep concern over the unprecedented workload placed on government employees due to the authorities’ failure to fill long-vacant posts across departments in the occupied territory.
Malik said pensioners and senior citizens were suffering severe hardships due to what he described as “anti-employee” policies adopted by the occupation regime. He noted that the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities had devastated fixed-income groups and “broken the backbone” of retired employees, who continue to struggle without adequate support.
He added that the chronic staff shortage was not only overburdening existing employees but also damaging their health and efficiency. The Front urged the authorities to immediately fill all vacant positions to prevent further deterioration in the functioning of public offices.
The leaders presented a detailed charter of demands to the administration. Their foremost demand was the regularization of all categories of daily wagers and contractual and consolidated workers.
The United Front also pressed for full implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission, extending its benefits to retired employees as well.
The association resolved to intensify its efforts in the coming days and appealed to the authorities to positively address the long-pending grievances of pensioners, senior citizens and serving employees in the occupied territory.
