Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today instructed concerned officers to prepare a proposal for revising loading, unloading rates of gunny bags to Rs 2.65 per bag, and replacing laborers above 65 years of age by their legal heir.The Minister issued these instructions after holding a meeting with Labor Union representatives of FCS&CA, who apprised the Minister with of various issues.After giving a patient hearing to the representatives, the Minister issued directions to concerned officers to make a proposal to revise loading, unloading rates of gunny bags falling in range of 49 to 80 kg from Rs 2.22 per bag to Rs. 2.65 per bag.During the meeting, the Minister also directed that from now on the increment for loading, unloading of the bags should be done every year on April as per price index.Besides, the Minister also directed the laborers above the 65 years of age should be replaced by their legal heir. And those who fall in between 60 to 65 years of age bar would serve as Head Labor.Clarifying on the issue, the Minister said it is an unjustifiable thing to ask a person to do loading, unloading work after the age of 65. Therefore, the Minister said it would be better if the person is relieved from his work after attaining the age of 65, and gets replaced by his legal heir. He said it would ensure that the source of livelihood is maintained for the family till they find some other alternative.
Addressing the labor representatives present in the meeting, Mr. Zulfkar Ali said the Government sees the laborers working for the department as an important pillar without whom serving people would be extremely difficult. He said all the genuine demands of laborers would be taken care of. However, laborers also have to work as responsibly, to ensure that they deliver their duties as per requirement and guidelines, so that food grains reach to consumers on time, and also ensure pilferage is checked on their end also.Stressing on timely payment to the laborers, the Minister directed to ensure that wages of FCS&CA laborers get released before 10th of every month so that they do not face any kind of financial difficulty.Besides, Mr. Zulfkar Ali said the Government would ensure that only those who work will get paid, while those found absent would be relieved from their duties.Besides, the Minister also made it clear that it would be Government’s discretion to depute the laborers wherever required. He said the laborers should not shy away whenever, they are moved to a new place, adding, if the Government does not hesitate in paying, then it should also be their discretion to move a laborer as per the requirement so that the work is done. Secretary FCS&CA, Shafiq Raina, Director FCS&CA, Jammu, Mr. G. S Chib, Director FCS&CA Kashmir, Mr. Tassaduq Jeelani, and other concerned officers attended the meeting.