Schools locked in north Kashmir, SSA teachers demand de-linking of salary
Baramulla: Most of the government primary and middle schools are locked down and education is badly affected as Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem have called for two day lock out of schools after giving nine-day ultimatum to the government for de-linking their salaries from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and release of pending salaries.
“Distressed and dejected ReT, SSA teachers have no option left but to lock out of schools as we are forced to come on roads against non payment of salary from last four months and recent ambiguous statements of Education Minster,” said Adil Hussain vice president JKRETF Zone Fathegarh.
“SSA teachers including ReTs have been without salaries despite performing their duties in tough times,” said Fayaz Ahmad Khan, an RRT teacher who has been in the department from last 15 years.
“We are pushed to wall and our families are facing starvation. The delay in release of salary has made life hell,” District President ReT Teachers Forum Mohammed Yaqoob Bhat said.
Chairman J&K ReT forum, Farooq Ahmed Tantry said around 65000 ReT teachers have been recruited by the government since 2000 out of which 41000 were recruited under SSA scheme.
“While these 41000 ReT teachers were regularized as General Line teachers on basis of state ReT scheme their salary was not delinked from the SSA scheme which has resulted in delayed in the release of our monthly salaries,” Tantray said, adding the regularized ReT teachers are not paid their salaries in time due to wrong policies of government.
The protesters said they would intensify the protests if their demands are not accepted.
