KL REPORT
SRINAGAR
Police foiled protest march of striking Patwaris on Monday forcing them to hold dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here. The patwaris threatened to intensify their agitation in case government failed to fulfill their demands.
Hundreds of patwaris marched towards Civil Secretariat from DC office, however, police personnel deployed in huge numbers near Old Secretariat forced them to stop proceeding further.
The protesting patwaris carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands were shouting slogans ‘patwari nai sarkar nai, we want justice stop direct recruitment of Naib tehsildar. The protest lasted for one hour.
The revenue officials (patwaris) have been on indefinite strike for last 43 days pressing for their demands.
“Government has given us written assurances twice, but then retracted from its promises. Therefore, keeping in view all this, we have decided not to accept Government’s offer of calling off the strike until they implement the already made promises,” Patwar Association President Afaq Ahmad told a local news agency, KNS.
“They (government) had entered into a written agreement with us in February 2012 according to which all the decisions were to be implemented within three months. But we had to go for strike again when they did not full fill the promises, which were again followed by another agreement. This time government sought one month, but unfortunately did nothing on ground,” he claimed.
Pertinently the protesting revenue officials are demanding removal of pay anomalies and its retrospective effect from the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendation in the state.
They also demand recruitment of new patwaris, saying that single official has to share load of at-least three halqas.
The other demands include appointment as Naib-Tehsildar of the members who have qualified revenue executive exam and ban on direct recruitment on the NTs.
Meanwhile, Minster for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan told KNS that government has already accepted their two demands.
“Out of six demands government has accepted two. The partwaris should call of their strike now. We will make an announcement in this regard soon but the Patwaris should call off their strike first and resume work first,” he said and added government has examined their all demands on priority and shortly their genuine problems will be addressed.
The Minister said that public was suffering for want of their (patwaris) services, “therefore, they must understand the plight of the common masses and end the stalemate.”
