Contractual Faculty of SKUAST- Kashmir on Friday said that they are being paid lesser than what was promised and that too despite the advertisement of the varsity offering hiked monthly emoluments.
Facing difficulties on various counts in managing the day to day affairs amid sky-rocketing prices of daily requirements, the contractual faculty members have urged the government to intervene and “do the needful” so that they are paid what was promised to them. They alleged that they are also “discriminated” as their counterparts of SKUAST- Jammu are paid as per the revised pay.
“We are being paid Rs 28,000 as our monthly salary and this is despite the fact that hon’ble former Vice Chancellor hiked it for non PhD candidates to Rs 35,000 and for PhD candidates to Rs 45000 respectively and the order for the same was issued on 5 August 2021,” they said.
Later, they said, the contractual posts were re-advertised against the “revised salary” through an advertisement in October 2021, clearly offering Rs 45000 per month in case of PhD and Rs 35000 in case of M.Sc candidates “in light of the University Memo issued vide no. AU/Adm/(GAD) 21/9471-9530 dated 05-08-2021.”
“We were selected through proper channel and we should have been paid Rs 45000 and Rs 35000 respectively as our salary as per the given criteria,” they said, adding, “As on date, we continue to get the same meagre salary of Rs 28000 incase of PhD candidates and Rs 20000 for M.SC etc.”
They said that they have brought the issue into the no SKUAST-K administration time and again but to no avail.
“There response is the decision is to be ratified by Board of Management of the varsity,” they said and at the same time questioned as to why the varsity then issued the advertisement offering revised monthly emoluments of Rs 45000 and Rs 35000 respectively.
“Also, similar order was for SKUAST-J and why the similar faculty is being paid as per hiked emoluments. It is sheer discrimination against us. Isn’t it?” they said, adding, “Can they apply different yards sticks for SKUAST-K and SKUAST-J faculty.”
When contacted, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof. (Dr.) Nazir Ah. Ganai told GNS that the matter has been taken up with the government through the Secretary Finance department. “We are pursuing the matter with the Finance department,” he said, adding, “We are working hard and are hopeful that the matter is resolved very soon.”
Asked if the varsity was not at fault by inviting application against revised monthly emoluments and then paying lesser than what was promised to them, he said, “We are concerned. We know that they are being paid less but at the same time we have already taken up the matter with the government and are hopeful that the matter is resolved very soon.” (GNS)
