Teachers protest, demand release of pending salary

Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, May 16: Hundreds of teachers from different zones of the district held protest and demanded release of pending salaries.
Large number of teachers assembled in front of Chief Education Officer’s Office under the leadership of Siraj-ud-Din District President USTA and raised slogans in favour of their demands.
The protestors held demonstration against the non-issuance of long pending salary grant in favour of teachers working under SSA, RMSA, NPS and 3rd teachers and criminal silence of State Government to fulfill other pending demands.
They also demanded regularisation of ReTs who have completed their five years service as ReT, early clearance of MDM ingredient charges of some schools for the years 2011 and 2012 and also transportation charges which are pending since 2009, issue MDM rice to the in-charge of the MDM through village ration depot nearer to school, frame transparent transfer policy for teachers including regularised ReTs.
“Debar teachers from non academic duties, ensure proper functioning of various offices of the Education Department especially ZEO offices, release selection grade for trained under graduate teachers, allow DDOs to grant permission to teachers for further studies as in Kashmir province and fill all vacant posts in schools”, they demanded.
While speaking, provincial president Hari Singh strongly condemned the attitude of Central and State Government towards the teaching community as teachers are without salary for months together who along with their families are at the verge of starvation.
He said there is no cash crunch for ZEOs, CEOs and top bureaucrats and others in Education Department as far as their extravagant pays and perks are concerned.
He appealed the teaching community to unite for their just and genuine cause for bigger struggle ahead.
Spokesperson Chander Parkash also criticised the Government for present mess and appealed to the authorities to release pending salary at an earliest, otherwise USTA will be compelled to initiate aggressive agitation on broader path.
Among others who spoke were Provincial general secretary Rajeev Kumar, etc.
Later, a memorandum was submitted to CEO and DDC Kishtwar.