Srinagar, Mar 30: Waheed Para, Peoples Democratic Party leader and MLA from Pulwama, on Monday termed the regularisation of daily wagers a “humanitarian issue” and called for urgent steps to address their long-pending demands.
Speaking to reporters outside the J&K Assembly, Para said nearly one lakh people are engaged in essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, PHE and irrigation, playing a crucial role in round-the-clock operations.
“This is not merely an issue of employment or regularisation; it is a humanitarian concern. These workers have served for decades, yet many remain without recognition and job security,” he said, adding that past measures, including biometric identification and SRO provisions, should be revived to facilitate their regularisation.
Para urged all political parties to rise above differences and initiate a phased process to regularise these workers. “After serving 20 to 30 years, telling them they are not employees is a betrayal. The government must act with compassion and ensure justice for daily wagers,” he said.
He also stressed the need for broader administrative reforms, including the creation of new districts and divisions to improve governance and accessibility in remote areas, and called for discussions on issues such as alcohol regulation in line with public sentiment. (Agency)
