JAMMU, Aug 6: The Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF), affiliated with the All India Secondary Teachers Federation (AISTF), held an important meeting through virtual mode under the chairmanship of its UT President, Mohd Ashraf Sheikh, and urged the Government to immediately resolve the long-pending issues of teachers and employees of the School Education Department.
Addressing the meeting, UT President Mohd. Ashraf Sheikh appealed to the Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo, and the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, to take concrete and time-bound measures for the redressal of the genuine demands of the teaching fraternity. He said that the timely resolution of these issues would not only boost the morale of teachers but also strengthen the overall education system across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Executive Committee unanimously adopted a comprehensive resolution demanding the immediate implementation of a transparent Transfer Policy with the inclusion of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD). It also sought the repatriation of Teachers and Masters who have been serving in Hard and Very Hard Areas for prolonged periods, particularly in Jammu Province.
Ashraf Sheikh further demanded the early convening of the long-pending Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for the promotion of Teachers to Masters in Jammu Province. He also called for the creation of Master posts in all Middle Schools and the filling of all vacant posts of Masters, Headmasters and Principals on a priority basis to overcome the shortage of teaching and administrative staff.
Speaking on the occasion, UT Senior Vice President Rafaquit Hussain Malik demanded the clearance of all pending one-time exemption cases of teachers who acquired higher qualifications from UGC-recognised universities through distance /Regular modes.
Forum Vice President Mehmood-ul-Rayaz Bhat demanded the grant of post facto permission to in-service undergraduate teachers who enhanced their qualifications during service, enabling their conversion to Teacher Grade-II. He also sought the immediate conversion of all left-out Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers to Teacher Grade-II/III.
UT Additional General Secretary Aakash Kashyap demanded the release of two pending annual increments in favour of teachers appointed under SRO-202. He also urged the Government to facilitate B.Ed. training for untrained teachers through IGNOU or any other recognised institution in distance mode and called for the immediate release of pending Mid-Day Meal (MDM) ingredient charges to ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme in Government schools.
Highlighting the plight of low-paid workers engaged in schools, *Provincial President Jammu Gulshan Kumar Sharma* demanded that AAYAs, Mid-Day Meal Cook-cum-Helpers and Contingent Paid Workers (CPWs) be brought under the ambit of the Minimum Wages Act to ensure fair wages and adequate social security benefits.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolve to continue pursuing these genuine demands through democratic and constitutional means until they are addressed. The Forum expressed hope that the Government would adopt a positive and sympathetic approach in the larger interest of teachers, students and the education sector.
Among those who attended the meeting were Rafaquit Hussain Malik, Mehmood-ul-Rayaz Bhat, Gulshan Kumar Sharma, Lokesh Kumar Sharma, Aakash Kashyap, Neetan Kalyan,Jalil Ahmed ,Nazia Farooq Ganai, Shail Bharti, Satnam Singh, Ghulam Murtaza Khan, Amarjeet Singh, Shahbaz Akbar Khan, Rail Singh, Mohd Amin, Imtiyaz-ul-Haq, Bhupinder Singh, Ferdous Choudhary, Aakash Bharti, Romesh Kumar, Mohd Farooq Bhat, Kamlesh kumari, Shafiq Mirza, Azad Hussain, Imran Hussain, Ashok Kumar, and others.