Srinagar, 20 April (KNS): Former Member Legislative Assembly Pahalgam, Rafi Ahmad Mir has sought immediate release of the pending payments to the pony wallas who have worked during the Amarnath yatra period in years 2018 and 2019 at Pahalgam and Baltal.

As per the statement issued to kashmir news service (KNS), Mir demanded the government that the pending payments of the pony wallas should be released immediately. He castigated the government for withholding their dues.”The insensitive approach of the government towards the long pending legitimate grievances of these poor workers is unfortunate. They work with dedication but have been pushed to the wall and the government seems to be insensitive towards their well-being,” he added. 

Mir said that the pending payment issue has severely hit their means of livelihood. Most of these workers are the sole breadwinners of their respective families and it is impossible for them to manage their day-to-day expenditure as the government has withheld their dues since year 2018.

Mir on this issue sought personal intervention of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha into the release of pending payment and hoped that in view of holy month of Ramadan and other reasonable circumstances, the government will respond to this public demand.(KNS)