Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: The executive committee of SKUAST-Teaching Association Jammu (SKUAST-TAJ), led by its President Dr Vikas Sharma, called on Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-J, Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganai and discussed with him various burning and just issues of the faculty.
Dr Vikas Sharma put forth the major demand of teaching fraternity regarding the release of increased salary / dues and arrears for teachers who got promotions under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for Teachers in June 2022.
Dr Vikas informed the VC that more than 150 teachers were promoted in June 2022 to the post of Associate Professor / Senior Scientist and Professor / Chief Scientist under CAS, but their promotional benefits in the form of increased salary / arrears are still awaited. The teaching association of SKUAST-Jammu also stressed for the abolition of contract system for the engagement of unskilled labourers in SKUAST-Jammu.
Dr Vikas informed that the University is principal employer and paying wages for all the unskilled labourers engaged in SKUAST-J, but the contractor is unnecessarily minting money as a middleman that leads to the delay in release of wages for these poor labourers. “So, this ‘Thekedari system’ must be stamped out for the welfare of unskilled labourers as these Thekedars neither provide the labourers nor release the salary and other benefits of labourers on time,” he added.
After patient hearing, VC assured the TAJ members to solve their issues as soon as possible. Besides, Dr Pradeep Kumar Rai-Joint Secretary, Dr Devinder Sharma- Publicity Secretary, the meeting was attended by Dr Rajeev Bharat and Dr Anil Bhat.