Srinagar, Mar 02: Demanding continuation of service and comprehensive job policy, 10+2 contractual lecturers from different parts of the Valley hit streets Monday to protest against the government’s alleged “use and throw” policy.
Protesting lecturers alleged that government after availing their service for several decades now asks them to apply through Public Service Commission (PSC) to get confirmed jobs. They said the government besides disbanding them from service has withheld their salaries.
The agitated lecturers, who assembled at Lal Chowk this afternoon to highlight their issues through protest, alleged that schools face acute dearth of staff even as the government assigned 42,000 new academic arrangements for Higher Secondary schools across the Valley.
“We have rendered our prime age in serving the Education department, government after availing our service for forty years now asks us to apply through PSC. We have grown old, and lack the energy to follow dictatorial commands anymore,” said Shafqat Hussain, a protesting lecturer.
He said the government discontinued their services in 2019 and has not released their salaries till date thus impacting their social life. He further alleged that government “exploits the educated youth of Kashmir through ‘use and throw’ policy.”
Protesters appealed the incumbent administration led by Lieutenant Governor to address their issues and frame a comprehensive job policy for them to save their families from starvation.
“The excuse government is giving for disbanding us from services is that we were appointed on contractual basis and have signed agreements before being engaged. How can we sustain our families in such circumstances? Since we have already crossed upper age limit, we cannot apply for jobs,” said Showkat Ahmad, another protester.
They appealed the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and other higher-ups of Education department to resolve their issues without making them to suffer anymore.
