exploitation in the name of employment

September 6, 2006

This is exploitation in the name of employment

The recent strike by contractual lecturers was a desperate attempt to make government see some sense in their demand, writes

G.N. FAROQI

The society is becoming more materialistic and values appear to be pushed into the background. There is nothing unusual about it. Each era throws up a role model and the whole society tries to emulate this model. Consider the Vedic times when wise man or a Rishi was an icon. Even the kings and the princes came down to his hermitage, sat at his feet to get knowledge

Today we are talking of value education, value based politics and value based society. All of us feel that the values are falling and nobody is respecting them. Point fingers at others, we do not realize that we too have contributed to this fall.

Agony and unrest has ultimately given way and the contractual lecturers, the noble segment of our society had to resort to undesirable act of shouting on streets. All J&K contractual lecturers association as expected came out in a rally on streets on 18th and 19th of July 2006 to vindicate their anger against the coalition government. Hundreds of lecturers marched towards the civil secretariat demanding the fulfillment of their long pending genuine demands.

Although much has been written and said about their demands but as usual the government has turned a deaf ear to their demands. We are at loss to understand as to why the government does not address to this vital problem seriously. This is not a casual issue as hundreds of educated youth are involved in this core problem. Job security is the most important problem of youth working on contractual basis. The way their case is handled tantamount not only to cheating as they call it but it is the most dangerous method of slow poisoning.

On the one hand they are appointed as contractual and on the other hand they are disbanded by the end of each academic session. During this uncertain period of their precious career they live in the trauma of discontentment and they feel quite unsafe in the hands of care takers. With such an unrealistic behavior of the government they have now mostly fallen victim of age barrier. Some of them have even small families to sustain.

The employee is supposed to accept the consolidated salary equivalent to the minimum of the grade the post caries which is Rs. 8000 in case of the contractual lecturers, this amount is equal to the half of emoluments paid to the colleagues lecturers working in the permanent case,. This violently discriminatory attitude is against contravention of the Supreme Court ruling which protects the right of equal wages for equal work. This becomes the source of humiliation for the underpaid class of the intellectuals of our society.

Pathetic stories have appeared in newspapers about their living conditions and their future. This educated youth has now fallen a prey to the social and human stigmas and to their misfortune the government is watching like a mute spectator, should we call it good and public friendly governance when the government is not aware of the factual position on the ground level.

Our exalted civil servants are truly functioning as unquestioned emperors; politicians promise the sky but do not even show the roof. All of them have received perhaps the best education and are trained in the best institutions. This intellectual dishonesty is horrifying.

At least half a dozen Ministers and then Chief Minister have given them assurances about the fulfillment of their demands when the association called on them from time to time, but there is no tangible change in the stance of the government.

Abdul Aziz Zargar the minister of agriculture in face to face interview published in Greater Kashmir 13th Sept. 2005 had said they have a policy we have taken their responsibility we will continue with them and will not leave them in lurch, we need their services because in every department the work is increasing. This is a blank assurance of a cabinet minister, which unfortunately has proven false Dr. lone the then Dy. Minister education had also given them the same type of assurance.

Mufti Sayed the then chief minister again assured the association that the services of the contractual lecturers would be extended without any break and continued till the posts are filled through PSC. He had further assured the delegates that the government is seriously thinking over the issue of giving Job security to the candidates who have crossed the upper age limit while rendering the contractual service.

Now during the current years when the association in a rally marched to the civil secretariat to apprise the present CM about their genuine demands they were refused the interview instead the principal secretary to the CM talked to the delegation. He gave them full assurance the he will plead their case before the CM and further assured that the government would look into their genuine demands.

The delegation also discussed the issue with the director colleges and his attitude was quite contrary and more authoritative then sympathetic. He was trying to prove himself more loyal then the king. Gh. Hassan Mir Ex -Minister Tangmarg has supported the cause of contractuals and suggested the government to address to this vital issue.

Last of all the delegates of the association called on PDP president who has apparently understood the multifarious problems of intricate nature when the delegation called on her and apprised her of their guanine demands some days back, she has admitted that the demands of the association are genuine she has in fact asked the government to work out a concrete policy about the contractual appointees. Some modus operandi has to be worked out to provide them the job security. She has further said the problem especially those of the girl candidates has become more social problem of human nature and compassionate view needs to be taken about their problems. She has understood the ramifications of the issue in real perspective she has given the delegation full assurance and their problem will be addressed more sympathetically.

It is pertinent to make a mention of the valuable ideas and assertions of the president of India which he has given during his recent visit to the state. This great scientist and educationist have highlighted the role of teacher’s community in cultivating creativity among the students to make them high standard thinkers and planners of the future. Appreciating the role of teachers the president has further said that the teacher has a noble status in the society and a good teacher can produce creative minds.

The present policy and curt attitude of the government towards the teachers community is quite contrary to the precious ideas of the president of India. The government needs to evaluate the view points about the teaching class of society and look into the problem with balanced approach giving due consideration to the valuable ideas of the president.

The importance of a teacher as an architect of our future generations also demands that only the best and the most intelligent and competent members of our intelligentsia be allowed to qualify for this profession. It is unfortunate to find that generally the worst and the most incapable people of the society find their way to this profession.

The vital issue of discontentment of the contractual lecturer’s/ appointees is required to be taken up more seriously as the association has again warned that they may go on indefinite strike in case the decision is delayed by the government.

The present governments from day one has taken in hand the Herculean task to revamp the system of administration, many kinds of scandals have surfaced. We hope that in this effort of the government the contractual appointees will also get justice in the corruption free atmosphere. This would give a satisfactory consolation to their future visionaries more than that the pillars of our nation. The non seriousness of the government can prove disastrous.

We cannot expect an educational arrangement to deliver the goods unless it has a cadre of competent, mentally satisfied teachers. We need to address these and other associated problems of these contractuals. The lecturers / teachers should be entitled to better salaries and better facilities when compared with other professions. All out efforts should be launched at the government level to restore the financial and social status of these contractual lecturers or teachers.

This is an important issue demanding immediate and prioritized attention of the government on emergent basis. And can go a long way towards a better future of our state.

The battle most people lose is the battles over the fear of failure - try – start- begin and you will be assured that you won the first round.

(G.N. Faroqi is Retd. Director Sericulture Dev. Deptt J&K State)

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