SRINAGAR, Jun 25: The All Jammu & Kashmir Non-Gazetted Horticulture Employees Union (NGHEU) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Directorate of Horticulture, Rajbagh, Srinagar, demanding the resolution of several long-pending issues concerning horticulture employees across the Union Territory.
The demonstration was led by Union Territory President Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who said the employees had assembled to draw the Government’s attention towards issues that have remained unresolved for years, adversely affecting their service conditions, welfare and career progression.
Addressing the gathering, Bhat expressed concern over the delay in addressing the employees’ genuine demands and urged the authorities to take immediate corrective measures. He said horticulture employees have been serving the department with dedication and deserve fair treatment and equal opportunities.
The Union demanded removal of pay anomalies by bringing Horticulture Department employees at par with their counterparts in the Sheep Husbandry and Animal Husbandry departments. It also sought the early finalization and notification of the Non-Gazetted Recruitment Rules for Horticulture Department employees to ensure transparency and career advancement.
Another key demand raised during the protest was the withdrawal of the Basic Horticulture Training (BHT) Policy. Alternatively, the Union urged the Government to implement the policy in a fair, transparent and employee-friendly manner, ensuring that the interests of employees are fully protected.
Speaking on the occasion, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat said, “Our demands are genuine and have remained pending for decades. We appeal to the Government to remove pay anomalies, notify the recruitment rules and address the concerns related to the BHT policy without further delay. Horticulture employees have played a significant role in strengthening the horticulture sector, and it is time that justice is delivered to them through a time-bound resolution of all pending issues.”
The Union appealed to the Government to intervene at the earliest and ensure the legitimate concerns of horticulture employees are addressed in the larger interest of the department and its workforce.