Srinagar, Dec 01 (KNS): “Notwithstanding the pathetic economic condition of the employees who have served or are in service to society and pillars of the government by depriving them the post retirement benefits,” Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum expressed its concern on the issue.

In a statement issued to KNS, JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani said that it has been vehemently advocated that JKSRTC employees be given the due post retirement benefits to maintain their livelihood and social levels in this dearness age of commodities.

Abdul Qayoom Wani referring to the protests held by these employees at Srinagar and Jammu said that their struggle for justice and for demanding their post retirement right of gratuity and other emollients was justified and government must fulfill their demands before any poor employee becomes victim to the desperate conditions.

"Outsourcing of crew in RTC for newly procured Busses and Trucks is first step towards privatization of RTC, besides it is an axe to unemployed youth of J&K. Employees of RTC without salary for 4 months, Retired employees being without post retirement benefits since April 2019, and government is unmoved,” he said.

He said that Government is spending hundreds of lacs of rupees to purchase new vehicles but has no money to arrange legitimate salary and other Wages for these RTC employees. “It is like Government is decorating the cart but the horse is being kept hungry,” Wani said.

“It seems government is hell bent upon to deprive of the job security rights of government employees by privatization that too in so called welfare state,” Wani said.

JKCSF urges upon the government to consider the demands of JKSRTC employees for post retirement benefits, and release their pending salary. (KNS)