Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Mar, 18
Pointing towards the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities and resultant hardships faced by the people, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister said that unbridled inflation had posed the most menacing threat to the very survival of common man. The unprecedented hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG had resulted in escalation of prices of various goods and services in general resulting in massive public outrage. Most distressing aspect of the matter was the rise in cost of living without any corresponding increase in the income of the people. The worst afflicted were the poor and middle class people whose earnings had drastically reduced in the recent past due to covid pandemic and economic slowdown. The poor labourers, the daily wagers, the contractuals, the small and marginal farmers were facing worst ever economic crisis due to negligible income and increased expenditure due to the incessant hike in prices of essential items of everyday use. He was addressing several public meetings in various Ramnagar villages during his two days tour of Ramnagar constituency.
Accusing the govt of having failed to fulfil its obligations as a welfare state, Mr. Singh said that while the prices of essentials had multiplied manifold, it had failed to effect any increase in the wages and honorarium of the poor daily wagers and contractuals working in govt establishments thus forcing them to starvation. It’s the prime responsibility of the state to come to the succour of its citizens during critical times and to bail them out of crisis. It was ironical however, that despite unprecedented inflation the govt had failed to review even the daily wages of the poor working class and the minimum wages payable to the distressed labour force. While the wages for MGNREGA continued to remain at Rs. 204 per day even during the times of raging inflation, the other marginalized sections too suffered the worst nightmares due to adverse price index.
Seeking the linking of daily wages and other relief to marginalized sections to price index, Mr. Singh sought immediate review of minimum wages Act besides hike in honorarium and emoluments of other lesser privileged sections of work force and govt employees. He sought increase in “Kissan Samman Nidhi” from present Rs. 6,000 per annum to 24,000 per annum besides creation of Welfare Fund for poor landless people, labourers and dalits who were living below poverty line.
