Teachers protest in Srinagar over failure to get salaries

Volunteer teachers in Srinagar protested and clashed with the police over failure of literacy scheme's implementation on Monday.

Hundreds of teachers took to streets and shouted slogans against the state's education department for their 'callous attitude' towards implementing Saakshar Bharat Mission (India's Literacy Mission).

Under the scheme, over 6000 youth, who were working under two adult education programs-Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) and Continuing Education Mission-as volunteer teachers, were to be adjusted on contractual basis at district, block and gram panchayat level to teach the adults, particularly females.

"They should release our salaries; we are not protesting without any reason. This is total injustice towards us. We want to know the reasons why this has happened to us," said a protestor, Shazia Salim.

While the volunteers started their protest march from Pratap Park in the heart of Srinagar, and tried to move towards main city centre, police arrested many of them and also used force to disperse them.

The protestors say that the government has hardly shown any interest in properly implementing this programme.