With an MPhil degree, Ahmad has been serving Jammu and Kashmir’s Higher Education Department since 2004. He is a ‘contractual lecturer’, who has been teaching history for a decade and a half and has served various institutions. All of a sudden, he and his entire tribe have been grounded. They have been verbally communicated that their arrangement is over: they have no work to do, and no pay to take home. Now they are planning to challenge it in the court of law.
Recently, when the University of Kashmir held the Under Graduate examinations, those supervising and superintending the exercise were teachers from the secondary and middle schools. The ‘contractuals’ were around, sitting idle and were not involved.
“In 2004, when I was selected through a proper procedure, I got felicitations from all of my relatives, acquaintances and friends,” said Ahmad. Since then, he is a lecturer. In reality, however, Ahmad’s fight for his identity and survival in the department never ended. After putting in more than 15 years, the department has “verbally” disengaged him. Till August 5, Ahmad was teaching students routinely and getting a salary of Rs22000. As he resumed his ‘duty’ later, the principal asked him and many other contractuals that they are disengaged. Since then, Ahmad has not earned a penny. “In 2004 when I joined the college I was getting Rs8000. Gradually it increased.”
This story is from the January 19-25, 2020; Issue 42 Vol 11; THE DOUBLE CROSS?; edition of Kashmir Life.
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This story is from the January 19-25, 2020; Issue 42 Vol 11; THE DOUBLE CROSS?; edition of Kashmir Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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