RAJOURI, Nov 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has strongly demanded restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS), immediate convening of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for Teachers-to-Masters promotions and time-bound resolution of various long-pending issues affecting teachers and other government employees.
The demands were raised during an important executive body meeting of JKTF held at Children’s Park, Rajouri, under the leadership of District President Satnam Singh. The meeting witnessed participation from UT, Provincial, District and Zonal office bearers and executive members, who deliberated on several pressing issues concerning employees and the functioning of the School Education Department.
The proceedings were addressed by Mohd. Mahroof Choudhary, UT Senior Vice Chairman; Rafaquit Hussain Malik, UT Senior Vice President; Joginder Singh Thakur, UT Spokesperson; Gulshan Kumar Sharma, Provincial President Jammu; and Satnam Singh, District President Rajouri.
The JKTF leadership reiterated that restoration of OPS for all NPS-covered employees was essential to ensure social security, financial stability and dignity after retirement. The Forum also demanded appropriate pensionary benefits for eligible employees whose recruitment advertisements were issued before the applicable cut-off date, in accordance with the relevant government rules.
Expressing serious concern over the prolonged delay in promotional avenues, the Forum urged the Government to convene the Teachers-to-Masters DPC without further delay and ensure promotion of all eligible Teachers through a transparent and time-bound process.
The meeting also demanded a substantial enhancement in the salaries and honorarium of AAYAs and cooks working in government schools, regularisation of eligible land donors under the applicable policy and immediate clearance of all pending liabilities under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now known as PM POSHAN.
Among other important issues, the Forum called for opening of the transfer portal to facilitate a transparent and fair transfer mechanism for employees and sought immediate settlement of long-pending service-related matters at Zonal and District levels.
The JKTF leaders observed that teachers and other employees are the backbone of the public education system and their genuine grievances must receive due consideration through a responsive, accountable and employee-friendly administrative mechanism.
The Forum also congratulated Advocate Shamima Firdous on her induction as Minister for School Education and expressed hope that her leadership would bring meaningful reforms, administrative accountability and improved working conditions across the Education Department.
Under the guidance of State President Mohammed Ashraf Sheikh, the JKTF leadership appealed to the Minister to accord priority to resolving long-pending employee grievances, particularly those concerning pension security, promotional avenues and service-related matters, alongside strengthening the quality of school education throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting further decided to constitute a panel to strengthen and expand the organisational structure of JKTF at the District level, with the objective of improving coordination, ensuring wider participation and providing effective representation to teachers and employees.
Those who participated and shared their views included Javed Iqbal Mirza, Abdul Quyoom, Mohd. Saghir Qureshi, Abdul Quyoom Hill, Zakir Khatana, Mohd. Aslam, Hanif Lodhi, Shagufita Kosser, Rabia Kosser, Parshotam, Mukhtar Ahmed, Mohd. Gafoor, Mohd. Aslam Kandhra, Suchit Rotra, Jasvir Singh Kotranka, Habib Ullah Khan, Tahir Javed, Shabir Khatana, Javed Iqbal Hundi, Shabir Lodhi, Shakeel Ahmed Kotranka, Abdul Aziz and Vikram Dutta.
The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen the Forum at all levels and continue its struggle for restoration of pension security, timely promotions, protection of employees’ rights and improvement of the School Education Department.