The contractual employees working under Central sponsored Scheme, Saakshar Bharat Mission (SBM) Thursday held a protest demonstration here in Srinagar demanding their regularisation.Scores of protesters from various districts of Kashmir valley assembled here in Polo view Park Lal Chowk and shouted slogans against the state government for not fulfilling their “genuine” demands.As the protesters tried to march towards Rajbhawan, the police swung into action and arrested some of them, who were leading the protest.The protesters alleged that they are not being heard since last 8 years. They threatened to start hunger strike if their demand is not fulfilled till August 28.Taking to Press Trust of Kashmir the SBM employees stated that they were adjusted in the year 2009 on the directions of Prime Minister of India visionary program to literate the adult and left out persons through the centrally sponsored scheme named as "Saakshar Bharat Mission", an adult skill development program launched across the India including J&K state.The said that the recruitment of prerak, Block Coordinator, District Coordinator under SBM were purely based and made on merit at Panchayat Level, Block Level, District levels through proper procedure after dully constituted committees viz DC concern, CEO,s DIET,s & ZEO's and are performing their duties with dedication and devotion in respective of schools/ AEC's from last 6 to 7 years under the supervision of concerned DIET Principals, ZEOs and Headmasters.
They said that the scheme has been extended by government of India up to 31st December 2017 without assuring them the regularization of their jobs added that majority of the contractual employees are at the verge of crossing the upper age limit required for applying various government advertised post under service recruitment rules and obviously will get terminated in case the scheme will not be extended and their appointments did not get any cover under a particular job policy like in other departments.They said that from last 6 to 7 years, the parental department I.e. education department use their services like for academic supports in schools, AADHAAR duty, Election duty, CAPD duty and BLO duty, beside their legitimate duty. Added that recently the present government has framed road map for regularization of nine categories of workers engaged in different department from time to time, but left them out without any reason.They said that many among them are highly qualified and are holding PG. B.Ed, M.Ed, M. Phill & P.hd degrees and demanded consideration on their case on same pattern as they are are highly qualified and have good skills and well experienced.They said that they are also handing over the memorandum to local legislators so that they could raise the issue during upcoming assembly session and hope for the early consideration of their demands so that the worries and anxieties of educated youths will come to rest for ever.They said that in case the demands are not fulfilled, a mass protest will be held across the state added that if any untoward happen the responsibility shall lie on the state Government. (PTK)