Pro-poor directions need of the hour

In what could be termed as a beneficial move for the poor people, working in the different private educational institutions across Kashmir, the authorities have made it clear that the private schools should ensure the drivers and the attendants of their school buses are paid salaries during winter months like other employees of the school. Such a direction has brought a relief to the people associated with the private schools and were rendered jobless during the period of winters. Director School Education Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain Mir has issued a public notification to clear the air about the instructions that were issued to the private schools during the recent meeting held at the directorate here on April 4, 2024. It was quite unfortunate for the people like drivers and the attendants of their school buses that they were being usually pushed to the wall for three months, especially at a time when the business and other work remains on decline. These people as well as their children were being pushed towards starvation during the winter months. However, the directive at this juncture has come as a sigh of relief for them as it would ensure that all those who are working in the educational institutions are not deprived of their rights. Since the direction has been issued in this regard, the concerned department needs to ensure that the order is implemented in letter and spirit and those who are found violating the directions should be dealt with strictly as per the law.