Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers on Saturday staged protests in all zones across the State demanding implementation of 7th pay commission and de-linking of their salary from Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) funding.
The teachers staged the protest in their respective zones under the banner of Teachers Joint Action Committee (TJAC) headed by Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani. During the protests the teachers marched towards their respective zonal education offices and submitted memorandum to the respective zonal educational officers (ZEOS)
The SSA teachers are at warpath with the state government, demanding de-linking of their salary from funds received from ministry of human resource development (MHRD) and release of salary as per the 7th pay commission.
The protesting teachers said that the delay by the government in resolving their issue has left them in a state of depression. The teachers demanded de-linking of their salary from MHRD and absorbing them in the state budget. “We are serving in education department from the past 14 years and have been given all benefits like other state employees but it is unfortunate that the previous dispensation excluded us from the benefits of 7th pay commission,” said Syed Iftikhar, chief coordinator of SSA teachers association who was leading the protest in Mawar zone of Kupwara district. “We have taken yearly increment, time bound promotions and were also included in benefits of 6th pay commission but we fail to understand why our community was excluded in 7th pay commission,” said Iftikhar.
The previous PDP led coalition government released the salary of all the employees as per the 7th pay commission from the month of April this year except for SSA teachers. The decision enraged the SSA teachers who took to the streets against the government. Similar protests were held in Ganderbal district which were led by General Secretary SSA teachers association, Hatim Qayoom
In educational zone Kangan and Hari-Ganiwan of Ganderbal, SSA teachers staged protest demonstration and submitted memorandum to the concerned ZEOs. The teachers assembled in the premises of ZEO office Kangan and submitted a memorandum to the ZEO. The teachers’ delegation was led by zonal president Kangan, Fayaz Ahmad Malik. In Srinagar zones, the protests were led by Shah Fayaz, chairman JKSSA teachers’ association.
(With Inputs from Sheikh Nazir/Kangan)