Srinagar, Jan 03: Employees of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have been facing severe financial hardships as their salaries have not been disbursed for the last two months.
Despite their critical role in maintaining the city’s infrastructure, especially during the harsh winters, these workers are struggling to make ends meet.
According to Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, the SMC employees, who are always at the forefront during emergencies, including clearing snow from roads, maintaining drainage systems, and ensuring the city remains clean, are now finding it difficult to support their families.
One of the employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We have children at home whose school fees we cannot pay. Our households are running dry, and we are unable to buy essential items. Even medications for our elderly family members are beyond our reach now.”
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The situation is particularly grim as the Meteorological Department has forecasted moderate snowfall in the coming days. Despite this, SMC workers have been stationed in their respective wards to respond to any exigency.
“We are performing our duties diligently, even in these tough conditions, but the delay in salaries has broken our morale,” another employee lamented.
To press for their demands, the employees have announced a protest to be held tomorrow at the SMC office.
The employees have appealed to the Commissioner of SMC, Commissioner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department, Chief Minister, and the Lieutenant Governor to intervene urgently for immediate disbursement of their pending salaries to help them cope with the challenges of the season and fulfill their responsibilities without undue stress.
