Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: National Panthers Party chairman Prof Bhim Singh has alleged discrimination against the contractual lecturers and M.Phil degree holders of Jammu division by the Higher Education department and warned massive agitation.
Addressing a press conference here today, Prof Singh said there should not be two set of norms in the State for the candidates from Kashmir and Jammu region. He said why should be there screening test for the engagement of lecturers in various colleges of Jammu region and no such test in Kashmir region for the same post of contractual lecturers and regular M.Phil Degree holders. Prof Singh warned not to fix different criteria for the Kashmiris and Dogras from the Jammu region. He said the Government must treat all the candidates of J&K equally.
The NPP leader pointed out that even as per UGC guidelines, M.Phil degree holders who have completed degree before 2009, they are exempted from screening/ NET/SLET. It means that candidate who are serving this department for the last 5 to ten years as contractual lecturers, the Government is showing them the door. These lecturers are being paid a consolidated wages of just Rs 8000 and Rs 12000 and that too, after waiting for months together while their counterparts in regular service are getting even Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per month.
Prof Singh said that Government should stop exploitation of the highly educated youth. While supporting their cause the NPP leader said that his party would launch agitation if the Government failed to review its decision. He also questioned the role of Jammu leaders in the Government and said that they are still mute spectators.