Budgam, July 20, KNT: A day after a wild bear attacked a Seasonal School teacher in a far flung area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the Seasonal School teachers also known as “Educational Volunteers” have demanded that their monthly remuneration be hiked as they are being paid mere Rs 4000 per month from last more than 10 years.
A Seasonal Education Volunteer teacher from Hardpanzoo Zone of Budgam was attacked by a bear while coming back to home from the duty. The victim identified as Khurshid Ahmed Dar, a resident of Arizal Budgam said that due to lack of arrangements, the teachers are forced to return home after day long duty in the far flung mountainous region.
Expressing sadness over the incident, the seasonal teachers told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the teachers who are being engaged in seasonal schools from May to October on seasonal basis are paid the same monthly remuneration (Rs 4000 ) which was paid to them more than 11 years back when this program started in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We work in vulnerable areas. We have no safety gadgets. Even tents and other stuff have not been provided to us,” the teachers said and appealed LG administration to address their problems.
They requested administration to help the victim teacher Khurshid Ahmed Dar without any delay.
The mobile seasonal schools are operational in Rajouri Poonch, , Doda, Budgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla, Kargil and few other districts of the State. Nearly 40,000 plus students are enrolled in these schools where Seasonal Teachers work on meagre salaries. (KNT)
