Labourers who were engaged in packing ration kits for blue card holders under the Punjab government's Meri Rasoi Scheme staged a protest on Monday, surrounding the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner in Jalandhar for more than eight hours. The workers alleged that they were dismissed from their jobs by the management of a private company contracted by the government for packing the kits. The protest was led by members of the Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU).
Protest Details and Duration
The demonstration began at 11 am and continued until 7 pm. Due to the siege, several officials remained confined inside the office, including Assistant Labour Commissioner Jalandhar-1 Dr Pradeep Chaudhary, Assistant Labour Commissioner Jalandhar-2 Kunwar Dabar, Labour Inspector Chandan Gill, labour office staff, the Naib Tehsildar of Jalandhar, the District Manager of Markfed, the firm's General Manager, and police officials. The tense situation persisted for eight hours, prompting the administration to deploy a large police force.
Previous Protest on May 30
Earlier, on May 30, PMU members had blocked the Jalandhar-Kapurthala road outside the packaging establishment, raising strong slogans. The protest was lifted after Assistant Labour Commissioners and the Tehsildar assured that workers would be reinstated. The workers were also promised wages and compensation for lost workdays.
Union's Warning and Scheme Details
State Press Secretary of PMU, Kashmir Singh Ghugshore, announced that if the administration fails to implement its assurances, the struggle would be intensified. The ration kits being prepared include essential items such as edible oil, salt, turmeric, lentils, and others. These kits are to be supplied to blue card holders in 11 districts, including Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Pathankot.
