Apathy towards contractual lecturers in IIOJK exposes authorities’ neglect
Srinagar: The plight of contractual lecturers in Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir has reached a critical point, as their demands for salary enhancements continue to be ignored by the authorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, despite repeated appeals, these Kashmir Valley-based educators, who are paid meager salary, find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
The insufficient pay has not only highlighted the indifference of the IIOJK administration but has also fueled growing frustration and resentment among the teaching community in the territory. They believe that the occupation authorities are turning a blind eye to their struggles.
The situation took a more poignant turn when news broke of two doctorate holders, who once worked as contractual lecturers, now selling dry fruits on a cart in Shopian. This story has resonated deeply with the community, drawing attention to the harsh realities faced by highly qualified professionals who are forced into such dire circumstances due to inadequate compensation.
Shazia Mir, a contractual lecturer, highlighted the demoralizing effect of this too little recompense, saying, “Every month, we struggle to make ends meet. The meager salary is a clear indication of how little the authorities value our contribution to the education system. It’s demoralizing and makes us question our worth as educators.”
Despite approaching higher authorities, the lecturers’ demands for salary enhancements have been met with silence. The feeling of being undervalued and overworked is widespread among the contractual teaching community, and the lack of response from the authorities only deepens their sense of betrayal.
Lecturers in the Kashmir Valley say that their counterparts in the Ladakh region are being paid twice as much as them, while they are being subjected to discriminatory treatment, which they find extremely distressing.
“If our demands are not met, we will have no option but to escalate our protest. We have been patient for too long, it is high time the administartion recognizes our plight and takes concrete steps to ensure that we are paid fairly,” said Shafia, another lecturer.
As the contractual lecturers prepare to intensify their protests, the IIOJK administration’s continued inaction not only exacerbates the crisis but also raises serious questions about its claims to addressing the legitimate concerns of citizens.
