Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Wednesday reiterated the government’s commitment to regularise daily wage workers, asserting that the process would be carried out in a structured manner keeping financial constraints in mind.

Emphasising the importance of assurances made in the assembly, Choudhary said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already committed to regularising daily wagers within his tenure.

“When such a statement is made in the Assembly, it must be taken seriously,” he said, adding that commitments made on the floor of the House carry weight and should not be doubted.

The deputy chief minister also termed repeated protests by daily wagers as unnecessary, suggesting that they reflect a lack of understanding of legislative processes. He further alleged that some elements, including political actors, may be instigating workers to protest, thereby undermining the importance of the Assembly.

Choudhary pointed out that a committee has already been constituted to examine the issue and its report is awaited. He stressed that the regularisation process cannot happen overnight and must follow due procedure.

Highlighting the financial implications, he questioned whether the Union Territory could bear the additional burden. He noted that without special assistance of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre, it would have been difficult to meet even existing salary obligations.

Describing himself as a former trade union leader, Choudhary said such issues are better resolved through dialogue and negotiation rather than continuous agitation. He urged stakeholders and the media to present a realistic picture, warning that frequent protests could dilute the seriousness of the issue affecting a large number of families.

READ MORE: Aneesa Sayyad: The ‘Golden Girl’ of Indian shooting

Reaffirming the government’s stance, he said the commitment extends to daily wagers across all departments and assured that all eligible workers will be regularised as per due process.