Daily wage workers from multiple government departments on Monday staged a massive protest in Srinagar, demanding immediate regularization of their services.
Witnesses said scores of daily wagers assembled and marched towards the ruling National Conference headquarters at Nawai Subha. However, police personnel intercepted the protesters near Radio Kashmir Srinagar and did not allow them to proceed towards the party office. 
The workers raised slogans seeking job security and implementation of long-pending assurances. Drawn from different departments, the protesters expressed resentment over prolonged uncertainty regarding their employment status.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the workers demanded that the government frame a concrete policy to regularize their services and address their financial hardships. Several protesters said many daily wagers have been serving for years without permanent status, fixed salary structure or social security benefits.
Police were deployed in strength to maintain law and order, and the situation remained peaceful despite heightened activity in the area.
Representatives of the protesting workers urged the government to initiate dialogue and announce a time-bound roadmap for regularization. They warned that if their demands were not addressed at the earliest, they would intensify their agitation in the coming days. [KNT]
