In a shocking revelation, the education department has engaged over 7,000 daily wagers in Kashmir on a monthly wages of Rs 200 to Rs 500.
Terming it “exploitation”, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken suo moto cognizance in the matter after reading a newspaper report on some schools in Badipora district where the safaiwalas have been engaged for Rs 25 to Rs 100 per month.
The matter, a spokesperson of the commission in a statement said, was listed before Justice Bilal Nazki, chairperson of the commission today.
While perusing the record on the file, it appears there were 7414 daily wage earners engaged by the department for Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month, the commission observed.
According to the statement the director school education was unable to tell the commission as to how many of these daily wagers were getting Rs 200 and how many were being paid Rs 500 per month.
The education department has pleaded that a writ petition stands filed in the High Court on the matter, saying it will not be appropriate for the commission to proceed in the matter.
However, the spokesman said the SHRC chairperson observed that the commission should intervene in the proceedings before the High Court.