Kulgam youth’s suicide shocking, release wages and regularise services of casual labourers & contractual employees: Hakeem tells JK Govt

Srinagar: Chairman People’s Democratic Front ( PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has expressed profound grief and shock over a heart wrenching suicide incident by a youth of Kulgam district . He said the cause of the suicide narrated by the youth in a recorded video message speaks volumes about callous attitude adopted by the authorities at the helm of affairs towards timely redressal of grievances of the common people especially youth. He said it was shocking that the youth has been forced to take the extreme step to commit suicide just to to invite government attention towards the miseries of his family due to non payment of salary to his father who is a teacher .
In a statement issued on Sunday Hakeem while expressing shock over the circumstances that led to committing of suicide by a youth of Kulgam district,has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident to fix responsibility. ” Disconnect between common people and the bureaucratic set up has reached to an alarming proportion, ” Hakeem observed adding that people are unable to get their problems heard and regressed at an appropriate level. He said there was no accountability in the administration and the Babus at the helm of affairs were ruling the roast.
” How pathetic it was a young boy in kulgam is forced to commit suicide for financial miseries in his family caused due non payment of salary of his father, who is a teacher, regularised 14 yrs back for a frivolous query, ” Hakeem said. He has urged the Lieutenant Governor to hold thorough investigation into the incident and also overhaul the administrative set up to make it accountable and responsive to the aspirations of the people.
Hakeem said that suicide committed by the Kulgam youth to expose cruelty and biased approach of authorities at the helm of affairs was a tip of an iceberg. ” There are thousands of contractual employees and casual labourers working in various government departments who are crying hoarse since long for regularisation of thier services and release of wages despite rendering more than 10 years continuous service ,” Hakeem Yaseen said adding that government has turned a deaf ear towards thier genuine pleas. He has urged the Lieutenant Governor to meet the genuine demands of casual workers, ASHA workers, NHM employees, HDF and Angan wadi workers about regularisation of thier services before they are forced to take extreme and untoward steps. He said these workers and thier families were confronting an appalling mental stress and trauma for want of thier livelihood especially in the pressing times of Covid-19 pandemic.
Hakeem has urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to adopt humanitarian approach towards meeting demands of contractual NHM, ASHA , HDF, casual and Angan Wadi workers. He said pandemic has already played a havoc with the life of people both socially and economically and it was paramount duty of the government to come to the rescue of the affected populace.