SRINAGAR: The Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association has announced a peaceful protest on June 2 at Press Colony, Srinagar, over the non-payment of salaries to staff of the Mechanical Division Srinagar, which has remained without a head for more than three months.
Addressing a press conference, Sajjad Ahmed Parry, Chairman of the Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association and General Secretary of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJEC), said that PHE employees, from junior staff to senior engineers, have continued to ensure water supply under difficult conditions. However, he expressed concern over the government’s indifference to their financial and professional issues.
Parry said the post of Executive Engineer in the PHE Mechanical Division Srinagar has been vacant for three months, creating an administrative gap. “Because of this, around 650 employees have not received their salaries for the past three months. Despite several requests to fill the post or assign it temporarily, there has been no response,” he said.
He said the inaction has caused distress to hundreds of families. “Employees with medical conditions are unable to get treatment, children are dropping out of school due to unpaid fees, and families are struggling to meet basic needs,” he said. “With Eid al-Adha approaching, many are unable to observe the occasion due to financial hardship,” he added.
He also criticised the silence of the administration. “Is this the governance we voted for?” he asked. “It is painful that even with a Muslim Chief Minister, no steps have been taken to address this issue before Eid.”
The association has demanded that the vacant post of Executive Engineer be filled immediately or interim charge assigned to ensure salary disbursement before Eid. They said the June 2 protest will be peaceful and aimed at seeking justice.
Several senior members of the association, including Abdul Ghani Dar, Wahid Ahmed Shora, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Altaf Ahmed Butt, Riaz Ahmed Khan, Rauf Ahmed Malik, and Saif Ahmed Butt, were also present. (KNT)
