SRINAGAR: All Jammu and Kashmir Village Guard (Chowkidar) association on Tuesday held a protest demonstration here in Srinagar demanding the government for the increment of their monthly salary up to Rs 15,000
The protesting Chowkidars from the various districts of the Kashmir valley assembled here in a press enclave and chanted the slogans “we want justice” and “increase our monthly salary”.
Basheer Ahmad Sheikh, president of All Jammu and Kashmir Village Chowkidar Association said chowkidars are associated with the revenue department. But for the last four years we are demanding the government to increase our monthly salaries, but unfortunately nothing has been done for us.
“We are registering the deaths and births and also performing the duties with other government departments. Despite working very hard with different government departments. We are only getting Rs 1,500 as a monthly salary”, He said.
Sheikh said that it has become impossible for us to run our families upon this Rs 1,500. The amount which the government is providing us is very low wages.
“On daily basis we register the death and births. On the other hand we have to manage our travel expenses from this Rs 1,500 which we are getting upon the monthly basis,” Sheikh added.
He further said that we are demanding the government to increase our monthly salary up to Rs 15,000. So, that we can run our families and can also manage our travel expenses.
The protesting Chowkidars also requested LG Manoj Sinha and higher officials of the revenue department to look into the matter and increase their salary.

ARIF RASHID