Release of COLA

Sir,

The Central Government has recently released three percent DA in favour of their employees w.e.f Ist July 2002 raising D.A from 49 percent to 52 percent. It is likely that J&K Govt; will also release the 3 percent D.A in favour of State Govt; Employees in near future. There are two sections of employees in J&K State i.e State Govt; Employees and Public Sector Employees. The PSU employees are governed as per Rajan Wage Committee Report of 1980. As per Rajan Wage Committee report, the State Government is supposed to release the COLA as per the Average Consumer Price Index from Ist January to 31st December every year therefore, the State Govt; should have no hitch to release the COLA slabs on regular basis as per the Prince Index. But it is pity that previous regime failed to honour the Wage Committee Report and prefer to remain mum in respect of release of COLA for the year 1998 and 1999, with the result every employee of the PSU is loosing atleast Rs. 1000/- to 2000/- per month. This is great injustice with the PSU employees. Till 1997, the COLA was being released on regular basis. Against the 49 percent DA the PSU employees are hardly being paid 25 percent. The PSU employees launched a strike during 2001 for release of due COLA for the year 1998 and 1999.

Nevertheless the former Chief Minister of the State gave assurance at the floor of the house that due COLA shall be released in favour of the PSU employees in due course of time, but as ill luck would have it, subsequently the said strike was branded that it was being supported by PDP, Panthers and CPI party, as such, if the COLA will be released the credit will go to these parties, therefore, the PSU employees were ignored from the basic right. At present the PSU employees are at the verge of starvation due to wrong policies and undue interference. We request the present Govt; to realise the gravity of the situation and release the due COLA in favour of PSU employees on priority basis as has been worked out by the Finance Department, so that unrest in the employees is faded and confidence restored in order to strengthen the State and PSUs. The PSU employees have high hopes from the present coalition Govt; which has gross roots and have always worked, fought for the cause of down trodden workers and injustice in the State.

To remove the disparity between the PSU and Government employees, it is proposed, demanded that instead of COLA, Government scales with DA should be considered in favour of PSU employees to remove the disparity once for all.

Yours etc...
Ashok Sen,
Janipur Jammu.

Inordinate delay in M.Ed. results

Sir,

We seek to draw the generous attention of the Vice- Chancellor, Controller of Examinations and Director Distance Education, University of Jammu , Jammu towards the Inordinate - undue delay in M.Ed (I & II) Semister Results of Session (2000-2001) + (2001-2002) held in the month of April and July 2002, for favour of their sympathetic consideration and immediate necessary action-orders thereon in the interests of justice as thousands of students - candidates appeared through Department of Distance Education (DDE) JU in the said Exams are very eagerly waiting for their results to seek their jobs, new admissions to other courses and promotions etc.

Besides, it is worthwhile to mention it here that a plain reading of the "Prospectus-cum-Admission Form" and the "Advertisement Admission Notices" issued in Different News papers by the Director Distance Education University of Jammu for Admission to M.Ed Course makes it very much clear that M.Ed is just (one) 1 year course but it is very much strange and surprising that virtually M.Ed. Course through Jammu University involves, takes (2-3) years due to undue delaying tactics adopted by the concerned authorities of the University in question which is quite evident from the above and the previous years MEd (1&II) Semister Results which "too' were declared after a long dalay of (7-9) months when the total course of just one years duration. Isn't it total injustice with the innocent students whose precious time is being waited?

In addition to it, it is also important to mention it here that neither the Personal Contact Programme (PCP) is conducted well in time nor the Study Material is supplied by post to the candidates which the DDE (JU) is supposed to do because the students do pay in advance for the same but it is very sorry to say that instead of sending the Study Material to the candidates by post the students most of whom belong to the remotest - farflung areas of the country, State are being compelled to collect it personally from the University ever after the PCP is over. The Deptt of DDE is supposed to supply the Study Material by post soon after the admission but this is not done which makes the students suffer and thus they are forced by this reason to purchase the books from the market.

Therefore, it is fervantly requested to the worthy Vice-Chancellor, Controller Examinations and Director Deptt. of Distance Education (DDE) University of Jammu to kindly look into the matter and to kindly issue orders for Declaration of M.Ed (I & II) Semister Results of Session (2000-2001) and (2001-2002) held in April, July 2002 and to conduct (PCP) for M.Ed II Semister and to supply Study Material etc by post to the candidates so that the precious time of the eagerly waiting thousands of students is not waisted and are not put to further difficulties for no fault on their part.

Hope, an early appropriate positive action in the matter may reduce our grievances and provide us much needed relief.

Yours etc.....
Ashok K. (Lal Puri),
On behalf of MEd. (I & II) Semister
Candidate DDE (JU),
Jammu.