In a unified show of solidarity, the academic arrangement faculty across all government degree colleges in Jammu and Kashmir staged a pen down strike today, demanding the fulfillment of long-pending demands, the foremost being a salary hike. The strike, observed in every college, sought to highlight the grievances of contractual and academic arrangement faculty members who have been working under unjust conditions without proper remuneration and job security.
At Government Degree College Darhal, the entire academic arrangement faculty participated in the strike, raising their voices for the acknowledgment of their critical role in the education sector. The faculty members emphasized their key demands and urged the government to take immediate action.
The demands include:
1. Proper nomenclature and recognitionas per UGC norms, ensuring professional respect and appropriate designations.
2. Implementation of a fair pay scalealigned with UGC standards, fixing the minimum salary at ₹57,700 per month.
3. Full-session tenure guarantees for academic arrangement faculty, providing stability and fair working conditions.
4. A comprehensive job policy for contractual lecturers to resolve the ongoing job insecurity.
The striking faculty also expressed their disappointment over unfulfilled promises made by various political leaders before the previous elections. They pointed out that former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other prominent leaders of the National Conference had frequently raised their issues during election rallies and on social media platforms, assuring that their demands would be addressed on a priority basis if elected. However, despite these commitments, the promises remain unfulfilled, causing frustration and financial hardship among the faculty members.
The faculty made a heartfelt appeal to the Jammu and Kashmir government, the Chief Minister, and the Education Department to take swift and decisive action to meet their demands. They stressed that these issues must not be delayed any further as they directly impact the quality of education and the livelihood of dedicated educators serving under challenging conditions.
The Academic Arrangement Faculty Association remains hopeful that the government will honor its promises and take concrete steps to resolve their issues at the earliest. Until then, the pen down strike will continue to reflect their collective determination and resolve.
