Jammu, Feb 17 (JKNS): The Government on Tuesday informed the J&K Legislative Assembly that a total of 1,00,501 Casual and Other Workers across various departments have been registered through online Aadhaar-based Biometric Identification and Skill Profiling.
In a written reply to questions asked by MLA Abdul Majeed Bhat, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, Daleep Singh Parihar, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Baldev Raj Sharma, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Satish Kumar Sharma, Irfan Hafiz Lone, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Tariq Hameed Karra, Sajad Gani Lone, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and Devyani Rana as per news agency JKNS, during the 5th Session of the Assembly regarding regularization of workers engaged for over two decades, the government said various departments have engaged such workers from time to time based on functional requirements and administrative exigencies to ensure continuity of essential services and implementation of schemes.
As per the official statement tabled in the House, the total registered workers include 69,696 casual labourers, 8,534 seasonal labourers, 8,836 daily rated/work charged employees, 3,092 part-time workers, 156 CIC operators, 5,757 NYC hamals/drivers of FCS&CA Department, 1,929 persons engaged under Hospital Development Fund, 2,153 part-time sweepers and 348 settlement assistants of the Revenue Department.
Region-wise data reveals that Kashmir division accounts for 57,390 workers, while Jammu division accounts for 40,077 workers registered under the exercise.
Among departments, the highest number of such workers are engaged in PHE/I&FC (38,585), Power Development Department (13,616), Education (12,646), Forest (8,317) and Public Works (R&B) (6,801).
The government further informed the House that a Committee has been constituted vide Government Order No. 384-JK(GAD) of 2025 dated 19.03.2025 to examine issues pertaining to regularization of different categories of workers. The Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, has been mandated to examine the matter from humanitarian, legal and financial perspectives and suggest a comprehensive way forward.
It stated that the matter involves complex legal, administrative and financial considerations including compliance with constitutional requirements and judicial pronouncements governing public employment. The government maintained that the time taken does not reflect administrative inefficiency but the need for a legally sound and financially sustainable approach.
The Committee is undertaking a detailed examination in consultation with concerned departments, and the government will take appropriate action upon receipt of its recommendations within the established legal and fiscal framework. (JKNS)
