Irfan A Mir
Pulwama, May 29, (KNS): Contractual lecturers appointed in Government Women’s Degree College Pulwama on Friday alleged that they celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr with drenched eyes as college authorities denied to release their pending salaries. They added that college authorities are dictating terms of their own and ignoring directions passed by Higher Education Department regarding release of salaries. However Director Finance Higher Education stated that authorities have already issued orders to release their salaries till April 30 and added what can we do if any college is violating order?
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), contractual lecturers alleged that though higher authorities have ordered instant release of their salaries of several months but concern college authorities didn’t abide directions which left several appointees into mental distress in wake of lockdown situation when there is a dire need of finance to meet exigencies.
“We have been appointed since August 2019 as contractual lecturers in Women Degree College Pulwama as per the directions of court. As we know that post August-2019 situation led the state into uncertainty for months however besides Director Finance Higher Education Department, the concerned directorate after intervention also ordered release of salary since March 5, 2019”, group of consolidated lectures told KNS.
They said the recent Eid-ul-Fitr was the first Eid in their life when contractual appointees had no single penny in hand. “Our eyes were drenched with tears when we woke up on Eid as our pockets were empty. How did we manage things, our God know better”, lecturers said.
“When salary of other consolidated lecturers appointed in Boys Degree College Pulwama, Degree College Tral, Degree College Pulwama and other colleges in South Kashmir have been released why only ours is being withheld”, they questioned.
They added that though few days ago consolidated appointees approached college authorities but they excused of non-availability of funds which seemed inapt for delay in salary.
Principal Women’s Degree College Pulwama Mushtaq Ahmad Lone while talking to KNS said that as per order issued by higher authorities there is no mention of releasing salary from March, 2020.
“As per order, salary will be released only since appointees have conducted Google classes” he clarified, and added “I have no objection if higher ups directs me to give them salary from March 2020”.
When KNS contacted Director Finance Higher Education Abdul Majeed, he said we have already issued directions to all colleges to release salary of consolidated appointees till April 30, 2020. When asked then why few college authorities withheld salaries of appointees, he failed to give appropriate answer and tried to pacify the matter with “What can we do if any college is violating order” (Hum Kya Kar Sakte Hain Agar Koi College Orders Ko Nahi Manta Hai). (KNS)