Kupwara JJM contractors face Eid with empty pockets
Kupwara, Jun 2: Dozens of contractors affiliated with the Jal Jeevan Mission Contractors Association staged a protest in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, their voices echoing a desperate plea: release our hard-earned money before Eid-ul-Adha arrives.
The demonstration, held outside the district administrative complex, highlighted a growing crisis that has left skilled contractors and their families in financial limbo despite completing crucial water supply projects months ago.
The protesters voiced their anguish over mounting financial hardships caused by inexplicable delays in payment disbursement. "With Eid-ul-Adha just around the corner, we are really concerned as we are yet to pay labourers and other stakeholders, leaving us in gloom and despair," said one contractor, his voice heavy with frustration.
What should have been a time of celebration and preparation for the holy festival has instead become a period of anxiety and uncertainty. Contractors who fulfilled their commitments to improve water infrastructure now find themselves unable to meet basic obligations to their own workforce and families.
The human cost of bureaucratic delays became evident as contractors shared their personal struggles. "This is not just about money. It's about our dignity. We have families to feed, debts to pay, and Eid to celebrate. How can we face our children with empty hands?" said another protestor, capturing the emotional weight of their predicament.
The irony wasn't lost on the gathered contractors – they who had worked tirelessly to bring clean water to communities now found themselves running dry on resources for their own families.
"We have completed our work on time. Now we are forced to move from one door to another for our payments. This delay has forced us into a financial crisis," explained a young contractor, highlighting how those who once held the dignity of skilled work now find themselves reduced to pleading for what is rightfully theirs.
The protest featured contractors holding placards and raising slogans, their unified voice demanding not charity, but justice – the simple fulfillment of contractual obligations that should never have required street demonstrations to resolve.
The contractors have made an urgent appeal to the district administration to intervene immediately, emphasizing that the approaching Eid deadline makes their situation particularly desperate. Their demand is straightforward: release the pending payments before the festival, allowing them to restore their dignity and celebrate with their families rather than explain empty promises to disappointed children.
The protest serves as a stark reminder that behind every infrastructure project are real people whose livelihoods depend on timely and fair compensation for work completed in good faith.
How Can We Face Our Children With Empty Hands? - Desperate Contractors Seek Justice Before Festival.
