JAMMU AND KASHMIR

J&K has rich legacy of pluralism, coexistence: CM Omar at flag off ceremony of RTC buses

Editor February 3, 2026 0

JAMMU, Feb 03: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir has a rich legacy of pluralism and coexistence.

He was speaking during the flag-off ceremonye of J&K Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses to major religious destinations of  different faiths across the country from MA Stadium, Jammu.

"These services reflect the commitment of the government to strengthening bonds of mutual respect and understanding among different communities," he said.

Omar Abdullah emphasized that facilitating access to places of worship of all faiths reinforces the spirit of unity and shared cultural heritage of the region.

Minister for Transport Satish Sharma and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam, Managing Director J&K RTC Abdul Rashid War and other concerned were also present on the occasion.

The special bus services will operate to prominent religious sites including Shahdra Sharief, Jawalaji, Namgyal Monastery (McLeod Ganj), Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ajmer Sharief and Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana, enabling devotees from Jammu and Kashmir to undertake pilgrimages with greater ease and affordability.

The Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of the Transport Department and J&K RTC for initiating people-friendly services.

"Such initiatives not only promote spiritual well-being but also encourage inter-state connectivity and tourism," he said

Minister for Transport Satish Sharma said that J&K RTC remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable transport facilities, and assured that the department will continue to expand services based on public demand.

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Class 10th results soon after appointment of new Chairman: JKBOSE

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Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

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J&K has rich legacy of pluralism, coexistence: CM Omar at flag off ceremony of RTC buses

JAMMU, Feb 03: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir has a rich legacy of pluralism and coexistence. He was speaking during the flag-off ceremonye of J&K Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses to major religious destinations of  different faiths across the country from MA Stadium, Jammu. "These services reflect the commitment of the government to strengthening bonds of mutual respect and understanding among different communities," he said. Omar Abdullah emphasized that facilitating access to places of worship of all faiths reinforces the spirit of unity and shared cultural heritage of the region. Minister for Transport Satish Sharma and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam, Managing Director J&K RTC Abdul Rashid War and other concerned were also present on the occasion. The special bus services will operate to prominent religious sites including Shahdra Sharief, Jawalaji, Namgyal Monastery (McLeod Ganj), Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ajmer Sharief and Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana, enabling devotees from Jammu and Kashmir to undertake pilgrimages with greater ease and affordability. The Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of the Transport Department and J&K RTC for initiating people-friendly services. "Such initiatives not only promote spiritual well-being but also encourage inter-state connectivity and tourism," he said Minister for Transport Satish Sharma said that J&K RTC remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable transport facilities, and assured that the department will continue to expand services based on public demand.

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