 Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 12: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, teachers have criticized District Election Authority for not paying that honorarium. According to press release, the SKUAST teachers, said, "Inspite of performing the election counting duty to the satisfaction of their superiors (after acquiring training) in respect of Elections to 6 Jammu Parliamentary Constituency in the month of May-2014, the district election authority has not paid honorarium in favor of the concerned teachers engaged from SKUAST date and again the district election officer has engaged more than 100 Scientists of SKUAST-Jammu for the ongoing assembly elections, disturbing the research and academics of the only farm and professional varsity of the Jammu Division.
President of Association, Dr. Vikas Sharma further pointed out that the association appraised DEO regarding the matter twice vide letter (s) No. AU/SKUAST/TAJ/ED/14-15/55 dated 05/09/2014 and AU/SKUAST/TAJ/ED/14-15/63-64 dated 11/11/2014 (with a copy to Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Umang Narula) and as desired by the DEO office, the association then submitted the whole record/ list of concerned scientists along with their account numbers for the disbursement of their share, but after the lapse of six months district election authorities are silent on the subject. "The honorarium in favour of University Scientists should be released immediately on most urgent basis within a week, otherwise the matter will be taken with Election Commissioner of India (ECI)," stressed TAJ President Dr. Vikas Sharma
Dr. Vikas Sharma informed that since SKUAST-Jammu is an autonomous Institution governed by ICAR/UGC norms where teachers are not only taking classes, but also are doing externally funded (DBT, DST, ICAR, CSIR, HTMM etc) research projects, All India Coordinated Projects worth corers of rupees, supervising MSc, Ph.D candidates as well as actively involved in extension activities, inspite of all that they performed the election duty in the interest of nation, but district election authority showed height of irresponsibility towards them.
Dr. Vivak M. Arya, General Secretary of SKUAST-TAJ, said that vide office order No. ENT/2014/8870-8950 dated 30.04.2014 and ENT/2014/9169-76 dated 14.05.2014, forty two (42) scientists from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) were appointed as Asstt. Observers / Micro observers (Tabulation) for the conduct of counting in respect of Elections to 6 Jammu Parliamentary Constituency, but if the honorarium will not released in a week's time, the association will pass a resolution to boycott election duty in future. Appointment of new executives, adhoc research projects, regular release of salary of University employees, welfare fund for teaching fraterinity were the other issues discussed in this 8th Executive Committee Meet of SKUAST - TAJ. The meeting was attended by Dr. Devinder Sharma, Dr. Rajeev Bharat, Dr. Poonam Parihaar, Dr. Jai kumar and others. |
