Surprisingly, our Government botches one after other centrally sponsored schemes for reasons beyond or comprehension. Lack of will, lack of vision and apathetic attitude towards the schemes meant for the benefit of the masses of people force the Centre to take certain administrative decisions with which it is not happy in the least. The State creates circumstances that embarrass the Centre and deprive the people of the benefits of these schemes. Hardly a week passes when one or the other botched scheme does not receive our notice.
In the area of education, Union Government has floated two schemes by the name of Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). These schemes are not exclusive to the State; they are made operative in the entire country. Under SSA scheme, the State has employed 45,000 teachers, with 20,000 in Kashmir and 25,000 in Jammu region. For last six months, these teachers are without salary. The reason is apathy and irresponsibility of the concerned authorities. Deliberately, difficulties are created with no purpose other than that of undermining the scheme and finding pretext to shift the blame to the Central Government. It is nothing new for our State to accept the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the first instance but then dump them making paucity of funds as an excuse.
In the light of guidelines provided by the Centre at the time of floating the scheme, the State was to pay 25 per cent of the expenditure on salaries of the teachers recruited under the scheme and the remaining 75 per cent was to be borne by the Central Government. However, the stipulation was that the schemes begin with the State paying its share and when that is done, the Centre commences paying its share. The State has failed to keep its commitment. The HRD Ministry would not budge unless the State had fulfilled its commitment. The result is that the teachers employed under the scheme are sandwiched between the two Governments. For last six months, they are without salary. If they have decided to go on mass strike from November 23, they have justification. Can any employee survive without salary for six long months? It reflects sheer callousness of education authorities.
The State has a balance of Rupees forty-one crore on this count and because it has not met its commitment, the Ministry of HRD has declined to paying its share. The question is why the Ministry of HRD did not keep a track of the matter and ensure that salaries of the teachers were paid regularly. If it had kept a track, may be the teachers would not have to wait for six months and still there is no clear indication when the logjam will be resolved. In the meanwhile, affected teachers have resolved to go on state- wide strike and paralyze the Education Department.
It is regrettable that in a phenomenon of repeated strikes in the Valley owing to one or the other reason, the student community suffers the most. The schools are shut down, and students lag behind in completing the course. We have often warned political leaders of all hues not to play with the career of the students. Unfortunately, students are made the target of their anger, revenge and recrimination. The proposed strike by the SSA teachers will be detrimental to the career of the students. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that students are not put to disadvantage.
Our candid suggestion to the Education Department will be to do all it can to stop the teachers from going on proposed strike. It means to find some amicable solution to the problem and release their outstanding amount of salary within shortest possible time. It must fulfill its commitment. Only then should it speak to the Ministry of HRD from solid ground. The department should stop playing with the interests of the teachers and the career of the students.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel