JAMMU, Jun 9 (KNO) : A large number of protest demonstrations were staged by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Teachers under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) in various districts of Jammu region and submitted memorandums to respective Deputy Development Commissioners pertaining to release the salaries of SSA teachers on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr besides benefits of 7th Pay Commission and emphasized the state government to take effective measures to address the grievances on war footing basis. However, the state government has already overlooked the pleas and statements made by the Opposition leaders belonging to national and regional parties including other organizations and Civil Societies of Jammu and Kashmir State over the issues and problems being faced by SSA Teachers and their families.
They also said that this is condemnable and unfortunate that their monthly salaries were being delayed from time to time, causing agony and anguish to the teachers and their families and lashed out at the State government over victimizing SSA Teachers, who have been appointed on the pattern of RET Scheme and after completing the period of temporary five years’ service, they were regularized. The leaders and representatives of Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum Jammu today staged various protest demonstrations at every district levels across the Jammu region pertaining to denying of 7th Pay Commission benefits to SSA Teachers which is injustice on the part of state government.
Emphasizing to take effective measure to sort out the problems of SSA teachers, Forum leaders while addressing the media urged upon the state government to response the genuine demands of SSA teacher and said, “We have submitted memorandums to every DDCs falling in Jammu region and appealing that SSA Teachers must get the benefits of 7th Pay Commission, which is being denied to them for the reasons known to the state administration. The Forum leaders also demanded that the pending salaries of all 40,000 SSA teachers be released forthwith.
“It’s a shame that even after months of confrontation, Mehbooba Mufti led government has failed to resolve this crisis resulting in large scale sufferings to the teacher community and their families. In view of the upcoming Eid ul Fitr festivities, the crisis has augmented and is getting worse for the teachers and their dependents,” they maintained. Demanding that the state government devise a robust mechanism to streamline salaries of SSA teachers, the Forum leaders further said, “ReT teachers should not be seen as a burden instead they are assets who have made education possible in the remotest corners of the state. The least government can do for them is to ensure that these teachers get their salaries on time without any hassles.”
“Earlier teachers working under the SSA scheme, introduced in the state in 2003, have taken benefits of the 6th pay commission, every year incentives are being provided to them but now same is being denied for reasons known to government. The teachers are being told that they are no more permanent employees of the state thereby adding to the chaos and confusion which is the need of the hour to address amicably,” forum disclosed. They further urged upon state government to address demand of delinking of SSA salary from Central Budget to State Secretary in order to regularize the posts as well as salaries of SSA Teachers and Head-Teachers who are facing mental trauma and starvation.