Govt committed to regularise daily wagers: Dy CM

Srinagar, Dec 23: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday reaffirmed that the government is committed to regularising daily wagers across Jammu and Kashmir in a fair and transparent manner, acknowledging the challenges posed by the Union Territory’s administrative structure.
Speaking after inaugurating a garment showroom, Deputy CM congratulated the young entrepreneur and his family for taking the initiative.
“Today everyone cannot get a government job, but we must learn to stand on our own feet. Such initiatives should inspire others to work hard and become self-reliant,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of dedication over scale, Choudhary said, “No work is small or big. What matters is your hard work and commitment. Even a small investment, if backed by determination, can lead to success.”
Referring to the issue of renaming welfare schemes, the Deputy CM remarked, “There is no need to change the names of schemes. The real need today is how to give employment to our unemployed children.”
He added that schemes like MGNREGA have been the backbone of villages, providing livelihood support to the poor and less educated sections. “By merely changing names, we should not end the employment people are already getting,” he cautioned.
Expressing concern over rising unemployment, Choudhary said that educated youth, including graduates, postgraduates, PhD scholars and professionals, are roaming without jobs. “Governments should focus on opening new avenues of employment rather than closing or renaming existing schemes,” he said.
On the issue of daily wagers, the Deputy CM said that the government is committed to their regularisation but acknowledged challenges due to J&K’s status as a Union Territory. “We want to regularise daily wagers in a fair manner. This commitment was part of our manifesto and remains a priority,” he said.
Commenting on recent political criticism, Choudhary said clarity and transparency are needed in public discourse. “We believe in the philosophy of live and let live. Our traditions and teachings guide us towards coexistence and harmony,” he said.
Condemning incidents of violence elsewhere, the Deputy CM added, “Whatever has happened in Bangladesh deserves condemnation and has no place in any civilised society.” (JKNS)