Srinagar, Demonstrations took place in Srinagar and Kupwara districts of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where locals voiced their opposition against policies implemented by the administration appointed by New Delhi. These policies, As per protestors, adversely affect educators and some of the most vulnerable segments of society.

According to Kashmir Media Service, contractual lecturers in Kashmir gathered at Amar Singh College in Srinagar to protest an administrative decree converting their roles to guest faculty, a change they argue would significantly cut their earnings. The lecturers highlighted the disparity in treatment and opportunities compared to their counterparts in other Indian states, emphasizing the precarious nature of their employment with over 2,000 lecturers across Kashmir affected by such policies.

The protestors called for a more transparent recruitment process and the immediate appointment to vacant lecturing positions across the region, threatening to commence hunger strikes if their concerns remain unaddressed.

In a separate demonstration in Kupwara, specially-abled and elderly individuals protested in front of the District Commissioner’s office over the non-payment of their monthly pensions for the past nine months. The lack of financial support, they argue, has severely impacted their lives, with many unable to afford basic necessities, including medication. Mushtaq Ahmad, a participant in the protest, expressed the collective frustration of those affected, criticizing the authorities for their apparent indifference to their plight.

The demonstrators in Kupwara have called for the swift implementation of the Disability Act, aiming to secure their rights and alleviate their ongoing hardships.

These protests underscore the growing discontent among various groups in IIOJK regarding the policies of the administration installed by New Delhi, highlighting issues of inequality, economic instability, and the need for immediate governmental intervention to address these concerns.