The heated debate in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on March 11, 2025, over the regularization of daily wagers underscores a persistent and deeply human crisis that demands more than political rhetoric—it requires action. The scenes of opposition parties clashing with the ruling National Conference (NC), the accusations flying between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the NC, and the stark admission from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the police’s unjust use of force paint a troubling picture of a government grappling with an issue it cannot afford to sideline.
Daily wagers—thousands of them across Jammu and Kashmir—form the backbone of essential services, yet they remain trapped in a cycle of insecurity, low wages, and uncertain futures. The opposition’s demand for their immediate regularization is not just a political stance; it is a recognition of their dignity and their right to stability. The BJP’s charge that the NC has neglected these workers over the years carries weight, but it is equally fair to question what the BJP itself achieved for them during its tenure in power. Finger-pointing, while a staple of legislative drama, does little to resolve the plight of those who toil daily without the promise of permanence.
This issue is not new—it has festered for over a decade. In 2014, Sham Lal Sharma, then Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) in the NC-Congress coalition government, had pushed for the regularization of daily wagers. At that time, many of these workers had already served in departments for over 10 years, their lives tethered to the hope of job security. Yet, from then to now, the issue remains unresolved, a glaring testament to governmental inertia. Today, some of these daily wagers have spent as long as 25 years in this limbo, their youth consumed by uncertainty. Worse still, some have crossed the age of 60, far beyond the typical retirement threshold, yet they persist as daily wagers. This is no longer just a humanitarian concern—it is a profound injustice, a betrayal of those who have given decades of service without reward.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s response in the Assembly was a rare moment of candor amid the chaos. His acknowledgment that the police “should not have used force” on protesting workers on Monday reflects an awareness of the humanitarian core of this issue. These are not faceless agitators; they are individuals fighting for their livelihoods. His assertion that “this is not just financial, but humanitarian” should serve as a guiding principle for the government’s next steps. However, his deflection of responsibility to Raj Bhawan—claiming the police are not under his control—raises troubling questions about accountability and governance in the Union Territory. If the Chief Minister cannot influence law enforcement’s handling of peaceful protests, who can?
The use of force against daily wagers protesting for their rights is a shameful overreach. It signals a failure of dialogue and a reliance on suppression rather than solutions. The government must ensure that such incidents are not repeated, and those responsible are held accountable. Beyond this, the regularization of daily wagers cannot remain a perennial promise dangled before elections or a bargaining chip in Assembly debates. It requires a concrete plan—timelines, funding, and a clear policy framework—to transition these workers into secure employment. For those who have crossed age limits, special provisions must be made to honor their service, whether through regularization or dignified retirement benefits. The resolution of this issue, now more urgent than ever, must be followed by a full stop to such precarious recruitment practices in the future. Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to perpetuate a system that exploits its workers for decades.
The NC and BJP may continue their verbal sparring, but the real test lies in what they deliver for these workers. The daily wagers of Jammu and Kashmir are not asking for charity; they are demanding what they have earned through years of service. Their regularization is not just an administrative fix—it is a moral imperative. The Assembly’s heated arguments should not end in stalemate but ignite a resolve to act. The people watching from the margins deserve no less.
