JKTA Baramulla President Mushtaq Bhat urges the Jammu and Kashmir Government to address vocational trainers’ grievances and review pension-related concerns. (Images: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: Mushtaq Bhat, District President of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Association (JKTA), Baramulla, has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to address the concerns of vocational trainers and consider a review of the existing pension framework.
Speaking to Dynamite News, Bhat said educators should be able to focus on teaching rather than staging protests to seek solutions to their professional grievances.
Bhat highlighted the role of vocational trainers in developing students’ practical skills and preparing them for future employment. He expressed concern over their ongoing protests and called for timely government intervention.
He also referred to an assurance from JKTA Chairman Shah Fayaz that the trainers’ demands would be communicated to higher authorities in an effort to find a resolution.
Bhat stressed that assurances must be followed by tangible steps, urging the concerned departments to engage with representatives and establish a clear mechanism for addressing the trainers’ demands.
Raising concerns about retirement security, Bhat called for a review of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). He argued that employees who dedicate years to public service should have financial stability after retirement.
He urged the government to examine pension-related concerns through dialogue with employee representatives, taking into account their long-term welfare and financial security.
Bhat appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Shameema Firdous to intervene and consider the concerns raised by teachers and vocational trainers.
He emphasised that constructive engagement could help resolve long-standing grievances, strengthen confidence among educators and prevent prolonged disputes from affecting the education system.
The demands bring employment security, professional dignity and retirement benefits into focus. Bhat’s central message is that educators’ concerns require serious consideration, transparent communication and practical solutions.
The government’s response to these demands will be closely watched by the affected trainers and employees seeking greater clarity on their professional and retirement futures.
