Aayas working in the Education Department in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have said that they were facing severe hardships due to delay in their salaries thus pushing them into financial distress.
They said that the non-payment of wages for last four months has made it difficult for them to meet day-to-day household expenses and support their families.
"Four months without salary has pushed us into financial distress. It has become extremely difficult for us to manage our households," said a representative of Aayas Association Kupwara.
"We haven't stopped our services despite the delay in payment but we are now struggling to meet even our basic needs. We appeal to the concerned authorities to release our pending salaries at the earliest so that we can support our families with dignity. Timely payment of wages is our rightful entitlement but we never receive our honorarium on monthly basis. We hope the concerned authorities will take immediate steps to resolve our issue," she added.
The aggrieved Aayas appealed to the concerned authorities to intervene and treat the matter on priority and ensure the immediate release of their pending salaries.
Reacting to the concern, District Education Planning Officer Mohammad Iqbal said that since they are recruited under a centrally sponsored scheme, their wages are released from centre.
He said that they have taken up the issue with higher ups and hopefully within a weeks time their pending salaries will be released.
