Srinagar: A vocational trainer from Kupwara died after suffering a cardiac arrest as vocational trainers across Jammu and Kashmir continued their protest for the ninth consecutive day, demanding job security and a formal employment policy.
Bashir Ahmad Gojri, posted at a Government High School in Kupwara, passed away on Thursday evening. Colleagues said he had been under stress over the uncertainty surrounding the future of vocational trainers.
Speaking at the protest site in Srinagar, fellow trainer Mohammad Asif said Gojri leaves behind an elderly mother, three young children and an unmarried sister, all of whom were dependent on his income.
The trainers continued their sit-in at Polo Ground, demanding job security, continuity of services, a comprehensive service policy and an end to the outsourcing system under which they are engaged through private Vocational Training Providers (VTPs).
Protesters said they have been serving in government schools for years but continue to face uncertainty regarding their employment and service conditions. They urged the government to frame a clear policy addressing their long-pending demands.
The vocational education programme was introduced in government schools under the Samagra Shiksha framework in 2016, with trainers engaged through private agencies.
