Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 5: Landowners locked over a dozen schools in the upper area of Largam education zone in Tral’s Pulwama district who were demanding jobs in lieu of land donated by them for setting up schools.
Sources said that landowners locked over a dozen primary and upper primary schools due to which normal studies of hundreds of students got affected.
The land owners after padlocking schools staged a protest at Satoora Tral where they were demanding jobs which according to them was promised with them when they donated land.
The schools include Dragad, Satoora, Wantwan, Hajan, Gulshanpora and its adjoining areas.
The protestors said that they only allowed the construction of schools on their land after the government promised them permanent jobs in these institutions.
“Since then over a decade has passed but the government is yet to fulfill the promises. We brought the issues into the notice of concerned authorities many times but nothing happened,” they said, adding they were left with the option but to lock the schools.
Zonal Education Largam Mohammad Afzal confirmed that class work of hundreds of students got affected due to closure of schools.
“At the time of construction of schools, the land owners were promised that they will get a job of contingent paid worker but to engage them qualification as per guidelines is required is 8th but most of them are below 8th standard,” he said.
“We have forwarded files of all cases whether they meet qualification or not to the higher ups. Landowners having qualifications below 8th were several times asked to get the compensation of the land but they deny and demand only a job,” he said.
Afzal said that higher ups of the department will visit the spot tomorrow and will try to settle the issue.
