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Removal of Pay anomaly

Sir,

Prior to issuance of SRO-91 dated 22.3.1982, Effective from (1.1.1982) the Teacher, Foresters and Girdawers of J&K State were working in the same pay scale of Rs. 220-430 vide SRO-345 dated 18.7.94 effective from 1.7.1972.

Similarly, the masters of the J&K Education Deptt. and Naib Tehsildars and Rangers of the J&K Revenue and Forest Departments were working in the same pay scale of Rs. 340-700.

But it is very strange and surprising that the teachers and masters of J&K Education Department being highly qualified were placed in the Lower Grade of Rs. 950-1500/1200-2040, 1760-3200 respectively vide SRO 75 dated 30.3.1992 whereas their counter parts in other departments i.e. Girdawers, Forests and Naib Tehsildars' Rangers of the Revenue and Forest Departments were placed in the grade of Rs. 1400-2300 and Rs. 2000-3200 respectively vide same SRO.

Again in the grade Revision of 1998 the Teachers and masters of J&K Education Department vide SRO 18 dated 19.1.1998 effective from 1.1.1996 were placed in the grade of Rs. 3050-4590 for under graduates, Rs. 4000-6000 for graduates and Rs. (5700-10100) for other category respectively and as against in the Girdawers, Foresters and Naib Tehsildar Rangers were placed in the grade of 4500-7000, 6500-10500 respectively. Therefore, it is crystal clear from the above mentioned references that the teachers and masters of J&K Education Deptt. have always been deprived of their legitimate benefits and are still being discriminated in many ways in every pay Revision as the Government is using two different measuring sticks for its employees which is quite unjustified. This pay anomaly, grade disparity etc. is the main cause of the teachers and masters disinterest with their profession.

Since the date the anomaly or disparity was made the teachers and masters approached all the concerned quarters candidly for its removal but, unfortunately, with no fruitful results. The concerned quarters are non-serious and they have not taken any action so far.

We therefore, request the Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Education Minister, Mr. Mohd Shafi Uri, to direct the concerned authorities to issue formal orders for removal of pay anomaly in the Teachers and Masters grades. It is hoped that Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Chief Minister would be enough kind to fullfill his own decision, commitment made in this connection with the teachers on July 21,1999.

Yours etc...
Ashok K Koul 'Lalpuri
Member, Migrant Teachers Welfare
Association, Jammu

Backward status for villages

Sir,

While going through the issue of Daily Excelsior dated 27-11-2000, I came across a notification published by your office showing the name of number of villages of Pahalgam Tehsil for which according to the notification published request are received by your department for their declaration as the reserved Backward areas and for the same purpose your department have requested objections and suggestions from the general public. In this regard I have to submit that being an MLA of the constituency the villages which are being considered for inclusion in the Backward classes list by your office, I have to make certain suggestions and objections in this regard which are submitted for your kind perusal as follows:-

That Pahalgam constituency which I am representing at present is mostly and entirely a kind belt and therefore has always remained economically Backward as the land in the whole area is not fertile to yield sufficient production. People spend more on agriculture but are unable even to yield that much of production which could sustain their livelihood.

The constituency being located for away from the district headquarters has always remained beyond the imagination and vigil of administration as well as the political leadership. As such has remained neglected and has not gained much development educationally. Even at present, if the average literacy level in the sad constituency is to be calculated, it will not reach the double figures which in the present day seems disquesting and shameful. Therefore, the idea of inclusion of the various villages of constituency in the list of reserved Backward area category is blessing in disquise. But this blessing should be neither arbitrary nor discriminatory.

After the perusal of the villages shown in the above referred notification it strikes to my mind that some of the patwar halqas comprising my constituency have either been completely taken into consideration on the one hand while on the other hand some villages from my constituency have either been partially considered or totally kept out of consideration. For example, Wahdawn, Kunzgam, Charigam, Lagripora, Sofipora, Kullar, Liver, Trail, Kathsoo, Budroo, Sakhras, Pethnoo, Dachigam, Movera, Aishmuqam, Khayar, Hapatanad, Sriugfwara are among those villages which have not been considered in the said notification.

In this regard have further to submit that if the basis of classification for inclusion or consideration is area climate, Education, Transportation of Standard of Education of the common masses, then villages Wahdawn, Kanzgam, Walarhama, and Kullar are coming at par with villages of Batakote, Pahalgam, Khayar and Ganishpora. It is to Submit for your information that both Khayar and Ganishpora already stand notified as Reserved Backward Areas by the J&K Backward Classes Commission.

It is, therefore, prayed that the villages taken for consideration be given the status of Backward Areas. Besides, addition of left out villages be made in the said order.

Yours etc...
MLA (Pahalgam)

Commemorative stamps

Sir,

Crowing of the Bareilly girl Priyanka Chopra of India as 'Miss World' is a positive sign to break monopoly of Indian metros for national and international beauty contests. Now since beauty of both body and mind is criteria for such contests, a reform can said to have been made to make such contests talent-based also though vulgarity in form of swim-suit contests unfortunately still exists. However, it is time for celebration for India on Indian beauties winning both the titles with Lara Dutta already crowed as 'Miss Universe', a unique performance repeated after duo of Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Roy won the two contests in a single year. Indian Posts Department should add beauty to its collectors' pack by issuing special commerative stamps on Indian beauty queens.

However, after unfortunate events of match fixing, organisers of International beauty contests should be careful since bookies have already extended their unholy business for such constests. Crowing of Priyanka Chopra never gave instant excitement because she was 'declared' crowned by bookies long ago! It is to be noted that Priyanka won the title in the tough contest even though she replied wrong in the final round! It can also be a game of multinationals to deliberately promote Indian beauties as models for their business promotion in India which is not the biggest consumer market in present days' of economic liberalisation. India is now in a position to dictate its terms to exclude vulgarity and obscenity from these contests by forcing the organisers to exclude swim-suit rounds. Beauty and body measures can also be best judged in dresses properly covering the body! Then Indian beauties talented much more that the crowed ones may join the fray which at present is craze only for models etc.

Yours etc...
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
1775 Kucha Lathushah
Dariba Delhi- 110006 (India).