SRINAGAR: Contractual lecturers in Kashmir staged a protest on Tuesday within the premises of Amar Singh College in Srinagar against a government order transitioning them to guest faculty roles.
The aggrieved lecturers said that the order would drastically reduce their salaries, slashing their monthly earnings from Rs 28,000 to a mere Rs 13,000 or Rs 14,000.
The protesting lecturers emphasised the unfair treatment and inequality they face compared to lecturers in other states. They pointed out that UGC guidelines require fair treatment even for contractual arrangements, a principle not upheld in Kashmir.
They lamented the lack of recognition for their experience, noting that the certificates issued to them hold no value beyond the current arrangement.
According to protesting lecturers, over 2,000 lecturers serve in various colleges across Kashmir under precarious terms.
Expressing grievances, lecturer Aftab Ahmad shared the personal struggle of sustaining a family on meagre earnings, highlighting the discrepancy in pay scales between regions as a source of frustration.
Protesters stressed that their demands were not merely for personal gain but for the betterment of higher education in Kashmir.
They urged transparency in the recruitment process and immediate filling of vacant positions across colleges in the region.
Lecturers warned of hunger strikes if grievances were not promptly addressed, underscoring the urgent need for the government to address demands, including reinstatement with proper designation and commensurate pay aligned with UGC guidelines. (KNO)
