Kashmir employees caught between the devil and the deep sea

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, July 28: Amidst the deepening crisis in strife-torn valley of Kashmir, employees from different government departments are virtually finding themselves caught between the devil and the deep sea.

Even as state government has asked its employees to report to their duties, it has, ironically, continued to impose tough restrictions to restrict public movement.

After failing to successfully implement contingency plan to ensure employees’ attendance, the government constituted special teams to monitor employees’ attendance in different government offices.

However, in wake of growing protests and clashes, a major chunk of government employees are finding it difficult to reach their offices.

Pertinently, the valley has been reeling under restrictions and curfews, often undeclared, for the last four weeks. There has been apparently no let up in protests and clashes, which have taken alarming proportions.

Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference has so far issued four week-long protest calendars as part of the conglomerate’s “Quit Jammu Kashmir campaign” in protest over a spate of civilians killings in the valley.

Significantly, chief minister, Omar Abdullah, today warned the employees to report to their duties or face the music.

“Those who take part in separatists sponsored strike calls should quit their jobs.” The chief minister said, “We will not allow absent employees to become a burden on state exchequer.”

The employees are torn between adhering to the government diktat and in the bargain putting their lives at risk or stay back home and, as the CM said, “face the music”.

Pertinently, the state government on Monday booked four doctors against charges of “rioting” and “disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servants.”

The employees have accused government of forcing them to put their lives at risk.

“How is it possible for us to report to our duties when the public transport is off the roads and most of us have no other means to reach our offices,” said a government employee. “Not all employees own vehicles. Even that is risky at times.”

He asked the government to start its own bus service to ferry the employees.

The functioning of schools, colleges, and universities has been deeply hampered in wake of the ongoing unrest. Teachers are not able to make it to their schools, or even if they some how make it, the students do not turn up.

Some of the teachers KTNS talked to seemed aghast over the government’s “irrational” decision.

“We put our lives at risk and reach our schools, but students don’t show up,” said a senior teacher. “With only police and CRPF personnel patrolling the streets, female teachers feel more vulnerable.”

Pertinently, minister for education, Peerzada Mohamamd Sayeed, had directed for constituting special squads to check attendance of teachers in all the educational institutions in the valley.

Significantly, some private schools in the valley have adopted e-studies method to prepare students for exams. Valley’s premier Delhi Public School has uploaded lessons and assignments on the school website.

Meanwhile, High Court Bar Association Kashmir, has castigated the state government for threatening government employees.

In a statement issued to the press, the association said that it would provide legal help to all those employees against whom the government takes action.

Meanwhile, the chief minister called on governor, NN Vohra, at Raj Bhavan here this evening. During half-an-hour meeting, the duo discussed various issues ranging from implementation of various development and welfare schemes to the ongoing crisis.

Earlier, both the governor and the chief minister urged the vice chancellors of Valley-based universities to ensure that the “educational system and the careers of the students are not affected”.

Addressing a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan, Vohra and Omar asked the VCs “to take all required measures to ensure that there is no gap whatsoever in the envisaged schedules of teaching, examinations, declaration of results, counselling, admissions”.

Stressing the need for “innovative measures” to make good use of academic loss, the governor said that effective measures should be taken to ensure that education of students is not allowed to be affected under any circumstances.

Asserting that career of students is of “paramount importance”, the chief minister asked the civil society, teachers, students and parents to come forward to ensure that education and healthcare do not suffer.

Minister for higher education, Abdul Gani Malik, vice chancellor, university of Kashmir (KU), Prof Riyaz Punjabi, newly-appointed vice chancellor, SKUAST-K, Dr. Tej Partap, and vice chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Prof. Siddiq Wahid, were also present in the meeting.