UDHAMPUR, Jun 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Teachers’ Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) held its monthly meeting at Udhampur on Saturday under the leadership of UT President Vinod Sharma and District President Udhampur Lekh Raj Parihar. The meeting was attended by executive members of the organization from all eleven educational zones of the district.
Addressing the gathering, Vinod Sharma highlighted several genuine and long-pending issues concerning the teaching fraternity and urged the government to take immediate steps for their resolution.
Raising the issue of a transfer policy for teachers appointed under the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme, Sharma pointed out that many such teachers have been serving in the same schools for more than two decades. He said that although the government had constituted a committee to examine the matter, its report has yet to be submitted. He appealed to the Education Minister and the Secretary, School Education Department, to personally intervene and ensure the formulation of a comprehensive transfer policy at the earliest.
Sharma also expressed concern over the non-release of pending Mid-Day Meal dues. He stated that dues for four to five months are still pending and that teachers have been managing the expenditure from their own pockets. He termed the delay a matter of serious concern and urged the authorities to release the pending funds without further delay.
The JKTJAC leader further demanded the holding of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings for the promotion of teachers to the post of Masters. He called upon the Director School Education Jammu and Director School Education Kashmir to expedite the process.
Emphasizing transparency in the rationalisation and utilization of teaching staff, Sharma urged the authorities to avoid any pick-and-choose approach and ensure a fair and effective mechanism.
Among other issues raised were the conversion of Education Volunteers to ReTs, whose cases are pending with the administrative department, conversion of left-out RRETs to Teacher Grade-II/III, and sanction of earned leave in favour of teachers engaged in Census duty.
The JKTJAC leadership also thanked Education Minister Sakina Masood Itoo for filing a review petition in the Supreme Court concerning the grievances of teachers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, District President Lekh Raj Parihar demanded greater transparency and rotation in the rationalisation process to make it more effective. He also urged the Chief Education Officer, Udhampur, to issue directions for the completion and updation of teachers’ service records.
Several members, including Sham Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Pritam Goswami, Ravinder Singh Rathore, Bhushan Khajuria, Shamsher Singh, Suresh Sharma, Vipin Raina and others, also expressed their views during the meeting.