Dozens of contractual lecturers of different degree colleges in the Kashmir valley received injuries as police resorted to baton charge on them while they were protesting against the government indifference towards their demands at press enclave here.
The lecturers were holding a protest demonstration demanding increased salary and regularisation of services.
“We were trying to hold a peaceful demonstration for acceptance of our demands but police resorted to stern baton charge,” Ameen, a contractual lecturer said.
He further added, “We hadn’t done anything wrong. We are only raising voice for our rights, but our voices are always being suppressed with force.”
The lecturers, having Masters degrees and holding Ph.D are paid ‘not more than Rs 8000 per month, while a regular 4th class employee’ earns up to Rs 15000 per month in the same degree college, he alleged.
“Is this justified in a democratic state?” he asked.
Chanting vociferous slogans against the government 'mismanagement', the teachers were demanding a ‘smooth and transparent process of promotion’ when they were baton charged.
“Even woman lecturers weren’t spared and were brutally thrashed and manhandled by the police,” said another lecturer who wished to remain anonymous.
“When political magnates take out rallies and disrupt traffic for 3 hours, the state machinery does nothing, but when it is about teachers or any other sector we are met with force,” he added.
In colleges in the summer capital here, an estimated 80 per cent of the class work is affected due to the strike, given the workload shared by the contractual staff.
Around 650 contractual lecturers have been on indefinite strike since Monday. They are demanding revocation of the nomenclature, terming them academic arrangement lecturers and teaching assistants instead of contractual lecturers; monthly stipends equivalent to the basic salary of the post on which they are engaged; and end to new norm of six classes per day.
When contacted, the president college contractual teachers association (CCTA), Fayaz Ahmad, said the strike was being observed with commitment. He hinted that there was no possibility of calling off the strike soon.
“There has been no response from the government. Therefore, the strike will continue,” he said.
Asked about the government response, he said: “So far we have not received any invitation for negotiations.”
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