Children support J

Jammu, Sep 13 (UNI) Amid anti-government slogans and demanding long pending salaries, hundreds of children today took to the streets in support of the workers of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) here.

The employees of SRTC are demanding immediate solution to their grievances, including the release of five-month long pending salaries, as their agitation entered the consecutive 25th day.

''The corporation is running in losses of crores with entire SRTC fleet coming to a grinding halt,'' official sources told UNI asserting, ''an estimated amount of Rs 30 lakh is the per day loss being suffered by the Corporation.'' However, the children carrying placards and banners, ''hamare papa ko salary do,'' and ''humne school ki fees deni hai,'' accompanied the workers, who took out a massive rally here.

Meanwhile the SRTC employees said they are facing hardships due to non-payment of salaries for so long and it has led them under starvation.

The ongoing agitation of the Corporation (JKSRTC) has entered its consecutive 25th day as they are demanding immediate release of their five-month long pending salaries.

''The government breached its agreement, which was signed between the leaders of the Workers Union on March 24, 2008 and the Government representatives, including MD of the Corporation and the Transport Commissioner,'' alleged the demonstrators.

The agitators said it was agreed that regular salaries should be paid to the SRTC employees while pending 42 slabs of COLA should also be released besides according hike in the wages of consolidated, contractual workers including drivers.

''The agitation will continue unless the government will not pay heed to our long pending demands and release our salaries'' a Union leader told UNI.

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