KU Faces Critical Staff Shortage with 500 Vacant Posts Since 2016

KU Faces Critical Staff Shortage with 500 Vacant Posts Since 2016

Asif Iqbal | October 23, 2023 | 08:57 AM IST | Kashmir | Follow on Google News

KU Faces Critical Staff Shortage with 500 Vacant Posts Since 2016 Image/daily excelsior

The University of Kashmir, a prestigious educational institution, has been grappling with a dire shortage of non-teaching staff since 2016, leaving over 500 positions unfilled. This scarcity has created a significant impact on the university’s ability to fulfill its academic and administrative responsibilities.

Chronic Vacancies Exacerbate the Issue

Out of the total 2,450 sanctioned non-teaching positions, including satellite campuses, only 1,900 are currently occupied, leaving 550 positions vacant since 2016. This situation is primarily due to the retirement of employees. Additionally, an annual exodus of 70-80 non-teaching employees retiring further worsens the staffing vacuum, with certain university departments being particularly hard-hit by the crisis.

Critical Departments Suffering

The Watch and Ward section, sanitation, hostels, examination wing, and landscape division are grappling with 30-40 vacancies each, severely impacting their operations. Furthermore, the administrative block, Alama Iqbal Library, and the research center are also affected, with nearly 100 technical positions remaining unoccupied, including laboratory assistants, lab attendants, junior technical assistants, professional assistants, and computer assistants.

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Impaired Research and Education

The vacancies have had a significant impact on the science department, hampering critical research work. Heads of departments have had to engage ad hoc assistants to compensate for the staff shortage. In some cases, HODs are forced to take on clerical duties due to the lack of essential support. The problem extends to the Physical Education Department, where crucial roles, including the women’s gym coach and sports assistant, remain unfilled, potentially endangering the safety of female students.

The situation has prompted concern among professors and staff members, as these non-teaching personnel play a vital role in the university’s operations and research activities. However, the issue has been neglected since 2016, with no significant recruitment efforts taking place.

Despite the university’s recent efforts to address the problem by advertising nearly 80 positions, the recruitment process has seen limited progress, leaving applicants anxious and frustrated. The delay in the recruitment process has left candidates eagerly awaiting the scheduling of examinations and the finalization of appointments.

Nelofar Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University, has acknowledged the urgency of the matter and declared that filling the vacant posts is her top priority. She mentioned that the university’s focus has shifted to this issue following the successful completion of the University convocation and promised to expedite the recruitment process from the coming month.

Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal is a seasoned news writer with a passion for delivering the latest updates to the public. Currently serving as the senior writer at VoM News, a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, Asif has established himself as a reliable source of information. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he consistently provides readers with well-crafted articles that cover a wide range of news categories. His dedication to journalistic integrity and his commitment to staying ahead of the news curve make him an invaluable asset to Vom News, ensuring that readers are always well-informed on the issues that matter most. You can find his work and stay updated on current events by visiting vomnews.in.