Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Mar 9: The work related to land revenue and other services has come to a standstill in this central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district due to the UT-wide pen-down strike by the Jammu and Kashmir Patwar Association.
The association has been protesting for their demands which include an increase in grade pay, the creation of patwar halqas, girdawar circles and other issues. The patwaris have also threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not fulfilled at the earliest.
While the authorities have assured the association that its demands will be looked into, no concrete steps have been taken yet. The protesting patwaris have urged the government to take prompt action in this regard.
The patwaris said: “Our strike is peaceful. We have been sitting on a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and tehsil office, and we will not go back till our demands are met.”
“We were appointed as patwaris in 2012 with a grade pay of 2800. After some time, due to unknown reasons, our grade pay was demoted to 2400. We are requesting the administration to restore our grade pay,” one of the patwaris outside the DC office Ganderbal, wishing anonymity, said.
“We have protested earlier, and the government has made promises to us, but till now, nothing has been done,” he added.
Another patwari said, “Our prime demand is the enhancement of grade pay, and our second demand is the creation of patwar halqa and girdawar circle. The patwar halqas of 1876, when Sir Walter Lawrence was the Regional Director, continue till now. As you can see, there were three districts – Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag. Many others have come into existence since then, but the patwar halqas have remained the same. Our sole demand is to increase these patwar halqas.”
Abdul Rahman, a local resident, while expressing his frustration said, “I came here for some work related to land revenue, but the office is closed.”
Naseema Begum, a nearby shopkeeper, said she supports patwaris in their demands. “They play an important role in land revenue and other related services. The government should fulfill their demands as soon as possible,” she said.
Riyaz Ahmad, a farmer, said the strike is affecting the work of the general public. The government needs to take quick action and resolve this issue. We cannot afford to wait for too long, he said.
“The patwaris have been working tirelessly for years, and they deserve better pay and working conditions,” Ghulam Nabi, a local businessman, said.
