Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Oct 19: A Contingent Paid Worker in CA-Khan village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district locked a government middle school on Thursday, demanding the fulfillment of promises made decades ago.
Mohammad Subhan Wani, in 1988, generously donated 15 marlas of land for the construction of the school in Check Arsala Khan. In return, he was assured a government watchman’s job within the school, along with compensation for the land, a commitment that remained unfulfilled over the years.
Despite my contribution, the government failed to honour its promises, Wani said.
According to Wani, instead of the agreed-upon government job, his son was appointed as a Contingent Paid Worker with a paltry monthly salary of 25 rupees, which continued for nearly a decade before he himself was eventually placed in the position.
Demanding justice, Subhan on Thursday morning locked the school doors. “My demand is straightforward. I want justice, either in the form of the promised job for my family or adequate compensation for the land I had selflessly provided decades ago,” he said.
“I provided the land for this school hoping for a better future for my family, and I was promised a job to support them. But for decades, that promise remained empty, and we struggled to make ends meet. It was time to take a stand for justice,” he asserted.
Wani’s protest swiftly caught the attention of the Zonal Education Officer of Bandipora, who visited the site to assess the situation.
After discussions, he assured Wani that his longstanding issues would be addressed, and the school was reopened for smooth functioning.
“I am hopeful for a resolution that will bring us the much-needed relief we deserve,” he said.