Patwaris across whole Jammu province today went on 2-day strike to press the Government to redress their already agreed demands.
On the strike call given by All Jammu and Kashmir Patwar Association (AJKPA) Jammu, patwaris held protest in all different parts of Jammu province as they went on 2-day token strike to create pressure on J&K Administration to fulfill their demands.
In Jammu, the protest of patwaris was held in front of the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu. A large number of patwaries participated in the protest. They staged dharna from morning to evening while raising slogans in support of their demands which include increase in the grade pay of graduate patwaris, timely departmental promotion, providing Government accommodation for the Patwar Khanas and basic facilities for running the Patwar offices. They also sought ban on direct recruitment of Naib-Tehsildars and demanded creation of GQ circles and transfers of GQs out of the district.
Speaking on the occasion, the protesting patwaries said that in support of their demands, all the Patwaris throughout Jammu province are on 2-day strike from today. He said they were forced to go on strike as despite assurance given by the Revenue Secretary in March 2022 that all their demands will be fulfilled within a month, nothing was done after a lapse of about one year.
Similar protests of patwaris were held in other districts of Jammu province. Patwar Association Poonch also went on two-day strike following the call of the parent body in whole Jammu province. All patwaris stage dharna at Patwar Khana District HQ Poonch and in Mendhar as well. They said that Government had promised to fulfill their demands last year in March but nothing has been done yet in that regard.
They demanded the Government to hike Grade pay of patwaries from Rs 2400 to 2800, bifurcate patwar halqas, grant 75 percent Naib Tehsildar quota to patwaries through promotion and issue gun licenses to them keeping in view terrorist threats.
