VTs ignored despite NSQF being successful in J&K
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, July 29: The vocational trainers in J&K have been left in the lurch after being engaged in the year 2016 under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) as the centre is not considering the proposals sent by the Government from time to time with regard to the enhancement of their wages for now.
The repeated proposals sent by the UT for the same are hitting regular roadblocks despite the scheme being a grand success in the Union Territory.
As per the officials privy to the developments, the UT has been submitting the proposal almost every year, however, the same is not being considered by the Ministry of Education (MoE)-the erstwhile Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD) which engages the vocational trainers under the scheme.
“It is up to the Ministry to okay the enhancement and the UT cannot do anything about it; the J&K Government has time and again made it clear that it has got nothing to do with it even though proposals for the same are sent every year,” an official told Excelsior.
The official said that in this regard, a proposal was recently submitted to the MoE, however, the same has not been considered again, adding that the final decision in this regard is going to be taken by the MoE.
“We had recently sent a proposal, however, with the scheme being centrally sponsored, we cannot go for the increase in the wages on our own as it would create additional liabilities for the exchequer,” the official added.
It is to be noted, under the scheme which does not fall under the direct control of the UT administration, the employees are engaged through a third party which is selected by the state or the UT and then the third party is directed to provide the trainers.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which is now Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, being the implementation agency, engaged Private Companies as Vocational Training Providers (VTPs) through a bidding process, which in turn engaged qualified eligible persons for the posts of Vocational Trainers who are about 1700 in number.
Notably, these Vocational Trainers are presently teaching a fifth compulsory (optional) subject to classes 9th, 10th 11th and 12th while passing the subject is essential for class 11 and class 12.
Also, in the last four years, the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) Scheme has been highly successful as the pass percentage in the subjects taught under the scheme has been much higher than non-vocational subjects.
The issue of concern for the employees engaged under the scheme is that some Vocational Trainers are expected to soon cross the upper age limit prescribed for the Govt jobs and would not be able to apply for the same as and when advertised.
The employees engaged under the scheme are demanding an increase in their salaries, annual pay increase, CPF, leave and Insurance cover.
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