7353 Safai Karamcharis working in J&K ULBs: Sakeena Itoo

Jammu: The government on Thursday said that the cases of regularization of Safai Karamcharis working as casual labourers in different Urban Local Bodies of Jammu and Kashmir shall be examined through the Committee constituted for regularization of daily wagers.
Minister for Health, Sakeena Itoo, on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, was replying to a question raised by Bharat Bhushan in the Legislative Assembly. She informed the House that 7353 Safai Karamcharis are currently working in various ULBS of J&K. She said that, of these, many have completed more than 10 to 15 years of service and work on permanent positions, while only few Safai Karamcharis are working as Casual Labourers.
The Minister said that the government has always adopted pro- labour policy within the ambit of law. The policy of regularization is under review in view of the Supreme Court Judgment in State of Karnataka V/s Uma Devi, wherein Supreme Court has laid down that any policy of regularization through executive orders, statutory orders and Legislative enactments is volatile of Article 14, 15 and 16 of Constitution of India.
She said that various protective items have been provided to sanitation workers viz, PPE Kits, Gum boots, Gloves, Masks and related stuff under the NAMASTE scheme.
Legislators; Balwant Singh Mankotia, Reyaz Ahmad Khan and Mehraj Malik raised supplementaries.